The Star: October 05, 2017

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30 Thursday October 5 2017 Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi The Star Inside the police war on the Head Hunters •From page 29 The word “factory” was used deliberately by Justice Simon Moore when sentencing the ringleader, patched Head Hunter Brownie Harding, in April. “Its sole purpose was to provide a clandestine environment to accommodate your sophisticated and well-equipped laboratory to manufacture massive quantities of methamphetamine.” He was sentenced to 28 and a half years in prison and will serve at least 10 years before being eligible for parole. While Harding was the undisputed “boss” of the Northland operation, said Justice Moore, there was evidence he answered to someone higher up the chain in Auckland. In one unforgettable conversation bugged by police, Harding was “incandescent with rage” after some of the drugs leaked out of the manufacturing apparatus and was lost. He talked about having to explain a $200,000 loss “down in Auckland”. In May, Detective Senior Sergeant Schmid said manufacturing methamphetamine was a money-making business and the Head Hunters were at the forefront of the lucrative enterprise. He had “no doubt” Harding was answering to more senior members of the gang, who were able to pull strings and “reap the rewards”. “There are a few key players behind the scenes. The Head Hunters have expanded and have a significant number of members now, able to task to run clan labs like this,” said Detective Senior Sergeant Schmid. “And they work just as hard, if not harder, in their criminal endeavours as you or I do in regular employment. The shame of it is if they applied themselves in regular employment, I’m sure they’d be successful.” In a late twist in Operation Easter, police were listening in when Harding rang the gang pad in Ellerslie wanting to speak with “Bird”. “Bird” is William Hines, one of the most senior Head Hunters in the East Chapter. The 64-year-old Hines was jailed this year for 18 and a half years for manufacturing P after LOCKED UP: Brownie Harding was sentenced to 28 and a half years in prison and will serve at least 10 years before being eligible for parole. a third, separate investigation, Operation Sylvester. “Bird” has a long and colourful criminal history, including a stint in prison for the Head Hunters’ first foray into cooking P back in the late 1990s. But he kept out of trouble until the start of 2015, when the police started a covert investigation targeting Hines and his underlings. Hines was in charge of the methamphetamine ring, giving orders but leaving the others to do his “dirty work” in order to keep his hands clean. Other Head Hunters and associates arranged the equipment and ingredients needed for the actual manufacture of the Class A drug. On just one “cook”, the group obtained 20 “sets” of pseudoephedrine – enough to produce more than 1kg of methamphetamine. At one point during the covert surveillance, police raided a storage unit linked to the group. They found a van, with an internal cage and heavy-duty locks. Inside detectives found 9kg of iodine and 33L of hypophosphorous acid – used in the cooking process – as well as 150g of P separated into ounces. These are commonly sold for $12,000 each. Alongside the drugs was a cache of high-powered militarystyle rifles and a Smith & Wesson revolver. “Sinister” was how the sentencing judge described the discovery. Three separate investigations, three senior members of the East Chapter of the Head Hunters serving long jail sentences. “These operations show the Head Hunters are at the very heart of methamphetamine manufacture in this country,” said Detective Superintendent Greg Williams, the head of the National Organised Crime Group. “We did target them – and will continue to target them and other gangs – in order to stop them from harming the community. And we make no apologies for that.” advertorial PASSCHENDAELE Commemorating WW100 – We will remember them. Woolston Brass with Music Director Tyme Marsters and The Christchurch Youth Choir presents PASSCHENDAELE WW100 on Sunday 15 October, 3pm-5pm at The Charles Luney Auditorium, a concert commemorating New Zealand’s darkest day during World War I. On the 12th October 1917 it will be 100 years since Passchendaele the Third Battle of Ypres, when 117 officers and 3179 men part of the New Zealand Division were killed or wounded in Belgium within a few short hours, 1190 were killed outright for an average gain of 300 metres. The Ypres Salient in Belgium was a death trap making this battle New Zealand’s greatest military disaster or disaster of any kind. This commemorative concert expressing this tragic and poignant event in our history includes New Zealand Premieres’ of Philip Sparkes’ In Memoriam - For the Fallen and Richard Strauss’ Solemn Entry of the Knights of St. John (arr. Mark Preece) plus works written by New Zealand composers; Brian Hodges’ Poppies at Menin Gate (World Premiere) and Dwayne Bloomfield’s Passchendaele. New Zealand’s darkest day will not be forgotten. We will remember them. Early Bird Tickets and further information can be found at www.dashtickets.co.nz 100 YEARS SINCE THE BATTLE OF PASSCHENDAELE. WE WILL REMEMBER THEM. WOOLSTON BRASS PRESENTS Sunday 15 October, 3pm Charles Luney Auditorium 12 Winchester Street, Merivale Adult $30, Senior Citizen/Student/Unwaged $25, Child (under 18) $15, Adult + 1 Child $30 Tickets available at the door (Cash/Eftpos) or Early Bird Tickets available at www.dashtickets.co.nz
The Star Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi Thursday October 5 2017 31 Introducing our brand new purpose built retirement village in the heart of Shirley. Retirement just started looking a whole lot better in Shirley! The Village Palms, opening in November, offers affordable luxury and first class care. Our stylish one bedroom apartments start at an unbelievable purchase price of $255,000 and spacious studio’s at a competitive $150,000. At The Village Palms, we also offer the full continuum of care, with care suites, Rest Home & Hospital level rooms available with care delivered 24 hours a day by Registered Nurses and experienced staff. Call us on 022 321 1872 or Freephone 0800 THE VILLAGE for your own personal guided tour The Village Palms Where new memories are made
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