“He whanau kotahi tatou. Nātiwhi!” |
“"We are one family. Natives!"” |
The Natives Motorcycle Club (NMC), often referred to as the Natives MC, is a Māori-based activist biker gang founded in the 1980s in New Zealand. They are deeply rooted in the preservation of Māori culture and the fight against colonial and foreign influences, making them a force of resistance against outside criminal organizations, immigration, and rival gangs.
Background
The Natives MC was founded by Temuera "Chief" Heke during a time of political unrest in New Zealand. Initially formed as a cultural preservation group, the NMC quickly evolved into a militant activist organization when Māori communities faced increasing marginalization. Today, they ride for two purposes: to protect Māori land and traditions and to challenge external influences in Eden City.
While outlaw motorcycle clubs are often associated with violence, narcotics, and criminal activity, the Natives MC have made efforts to reshape their image in the modern era. They present themselves as protectors and benefactors of their communities while covertly targeting rival gangs. It is strictly forbidden for any member of the Natives MC to harm those within their territories or under their protection. However, anyone outside these boundaries is considered fair game for their operations.
The Natives MC are infamous for the act of "depatching" rival biker gangs and motorcycle club members, stripping them of their patches and colors as trophies of victory. These spoils are prominently displayed in their clubhouse trophy room which features sections dedicated to rival gangs, both active and defunct. Among club members, depatching has become a competitive ritual, with lower-ranking members striving to prove their loyalty and strength by taking down and disgracing prominent members of rival crews.
Members
Temuera "Chief" Heke
Founder and current Chief, respected as the club’s cultural and operational head.
Grunt "Damage" Makoare
The Haihana-at-Arms, Grunt "Damage" Makoare is responsible for enforcing discipline and maintaining order within the Natives MC. Feared and despised even by his own brothers, his raw strength and unrelenting aggression are the only things holding the club together, especially among the newer members eager to seize control of the gang.
Paranoid and convinced that betrayal could come from within, Grunt constantly watches his back, suspecting his own brothers might one day turn against him or Chief Heke. This unyielding tension has driven him to chainsmoking, heavy drug use, and alcohol, amplifying his volatile nature tenfold.
Despite his chaotic existence, a small part of Damage longs to step down from his role as Haihana and return to being just one of the boys. However, his unwavering loyalty to Heke, his childhood friend, keeps him tied to the position, even as it tears him apart.
Winston Harawira
Winston is a prominent Māori politician and the leader of the Māori Party, the only single-party opposition to the dominant National and Labour Party coalition in New Zealand's parliament. As a staunch critic of Prime Minister Katey Laurell’s regime, Winston positions himself as a defender of Māori rights, traditions, and sacred sites, often challenging government policies and corporate actions that threaten the cultural heritage of Aotearoa. While not officially affiliated, Winston secretly funds the Natives MC, a gang aligned with Māori interests, using them as a shadow force to resist threats to Māori sovereignty and heritage.
Trivia
- Grunt "Damage" Makoare is based on the character Danny "Damage" from the 2019 New Zealand crime and gang movie Savage.