• The farewell for a Napier gang leader is taking place at a community clubroom as up to 400 mourners arrive. 
• Former Mongrel Mob Barbarian chapter leader Angus Benson died unexpectedly last week. 
• Police have set up checkpoints and surrounded the clubrooms in a bid to oversee the influx of gang members into Napier this weekend. 

Police have made several arrests at the funeral for a Napier gang leader as some mourners flout the new gang patch ban. 

More than 400 cars have been moving through the East Coast town as part of a funeral procession for Angus Benson, a former Mongrel Mob Barbarian chapter president who was also known as “Heil Dogg” – died suddenly last weekend. 

So far police have made at least three arrests - one of those was a person who has a gang patch tattoo on his back and is wearing a red singlet. 

A funeral attendee is spoken to by police. Photo / Paul Taylor 

The Herald understands there could have been as many as 15 instances of members flouting the gang patch ban. 

The cars began arriving at the Wharerangi Lawn Cemetery at around 3pm after mourners earlier gathered at the Napier Tech sports clubroom. 

Police have also been monitoring the procession after having a strong presence at the clubrooms. 

Mongrel Mob members from around the country have been making their way to Napier for the tangi this week, with police saying the main event was expected to be a vehicle procession between 1pm-3pm today. 

There is a heavy police presence at the tangi. Photo / Paul Taylor 

Police have also been building up a large presence to oversee the funeral. 

Benson’s body was seen arriving in a ute at the Napier Tech clubrooms in Marewa just after midday. 

Shortly afterwards, police began to send their first cars to the venue, with several members flouting the recently enacted ban on gang patches in public, including one man on a horse. 

Three people have also been seen being arrested by police just before 2pm. 

Whānau, friends and gang members are gathering in Napier for the tangi of former Mongrel Mob Barbarian chapter president, Angus Benson. Photo / Paul Taylor 

Two people could also be seen getting into a brief fight in McLean Ave. 

An estimated 400 people arrived for the ceremony, while the Police Eagle helicopter buzzed overhead and marked and unmarked police vehicles parked nearby. 

Benson was formerly Napier’s Mongrel Mob Barbarian chapter president and a prominent sportsman in the community, playing premier club rugby for Napier Tech for several seasons and cricket to a high level in his school days. 

Police yesterday said they had issued 60 infringement notices, impounded two vehicles and processed four people for excess breath alcohol ahead of the tangi. 

Angus Benson died suddenly last weekend. 

Inspector Lincoln Sycamore, the Hawke’s Bay area commander, said extra police had been coming in from outside the district to help, including the police Eagle helicopter. 

Police had also been meeting with locals, gang members and Benson’s whānau to plan ahead for the funeral. 

Sycamore said the police role was to “allow mourners to grieve respectfully within the law”. 

“We have also been engaging with local Mongrel Mob leadership, reiterating our expectations on lawful behaviour throughout the gathering and funeral.” 

He said police will be respectful of mourners but will not tolerate any breaches of the law, including for showing gang patches or behaving in an intimidating way. 

Police have said they won't tolerate gang members wearing gang patches. Photo / Paul Taylor 

“If you have immediate concerns for your safety, please call 111. If you are reporting matters after the fact, contact 105 either online or over the phone,” Sycamore said. 

Police had earlier set up checkpoints around Napier as gang members travelled into the area. 

On Wednesday they said they conducted 572 passive breath tests and 10 breath screening tests – four of which resulted in excess breath alcohol. 

“It is anticipated there will be increased traffic on Saturday, December 14, when the funeral and burial are expected to take place from around midday,” Sycamore said. 

People could expect large numbers of vehicles travelling from the Napier Tech clubrooms to the Wharerangi Lawn Cemetery, Sycamore said. 

A procession of cars is expected to arrive at the Napier Tech clubrooms between 1pm and 3pm. Photo / Paul Taylor

RNZ earlier reported Benson’s body had been at his mother’s home in Maraenui yesterday before arriving at the Napier Tech clubrooms today. 

Gang sources said Benson was a respected Mongrel Mob gang member. 

“The whole hood feels sad and mamae over him [Benson] being gone,” a source said. 

“He was very private. There is a lot of disbelief as many cannot believe Heil Dogg has died.”