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Incredible portraits show heavily tattooed members of one of New Zealand’s most powerful gangs – the Black Power NZ

Australian photographer and Maori, Casey Morton, has captured the contradictory existence of belonging to one of New Zealand’s most powerful gangs, the Black Power NZ

THE tough and tattooed faces of one of New Zealand's most powerful gangs - Black Power NZ - have been captured in rare photographs.

Each gang member proudly shows off their vests during the photoshoot with Australian Casey Morton, which lasted a day and a half.

Members of one of New Zealand's most powerful gangs - Black Power NZ  -  have been captured in rare photographs
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Members of one of New Zealand's most powerful gangs - Black Power NZ  -  have been captured in rare photographsCredit: IMP Features/Casey Morton
Each gang member proudly shows off their vests during the photoshoot with Australian Casey Morton
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Each gang member proudly shows off their vests during the photoshoot with Australian Casey MortonCredit: IMP Features/Casey Morton
The group was formed by Maori and Polynesian people who felt displaced
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The group was formed by Maori and Polynesian people who felt displacedCredit: IMP Features/Casey Morton
Each member has to go through a serious initiation period which can last up to a year
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Each member has to go through a serious initiation period which can last up to a yearCredit: IMP Features/Casey Morton
His aim was not to portray the gang members in a positive light, but to photograph them for who they really are and let people make up their own mind
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His aim was not to portray the gang members in a positive light, but to photograph them for who they really are and let people make up their own mindCredit: IMP Features/Casey Morton
These vests act like business cards, showing the members’ status
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These vests act like business cards, showing the members’ statusCredit: IMP Features/Casey Morton
The men are often heavily tattooed and are pictured staring at the camera with no direction from Morton
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The men are often heavily tattooed and are pictured staring at the camera with no direction from MortonCredit: IMP Features/Casey Morton
This member proudly clenches his fist over one of his many badges on his vest
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This member proudly clenches his fist over one of his many badges on his vestCredit: IMP Features/Casey Morton

Tattoos cover the faces of many members as they stare into the camera for the powerful shots.

This gang was formed in New Zealand by Maori and Polynesian men as a response to feeling marginalised in a colonized nation.

Morton, a Maori, was able to gain access to this group for a day and a half to portray their story, which most people would never get to see otherwise.

He said his aim was not to portray the gang members in a positive light, but to photograph them for who they really are and let people make up their own mind.

He said: "This show was never meant to persuade individuals that the gang are wholesome members of society.

“I want people not to judge them for who they are, but to ask why gangs are so large in New Zealand, and why individuals choose this fraternity."

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Morton was granted access into this tough world through two of his cousins who are members.

He rode with them through Christchurch, ate at fast-food chain Denny's and captured candid moments.

He gave the gang members little instruction, instead encouraging them to be as they naturally would be.

Gang member's vests act like business cards, showing the members’ status – like in the Hell’s Angels in the US.

In order to earn the patch, members must go through a terrible and disturbing initiation period that can last a year.

The gang are famous for their elaborate facial tattoos
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The gang are famous for their elaborate facial tattoosCredit: IMP Features/Casey Morton
Morton, a Maori, was able to gain access to this group for a day and a half to portray their story, which most people would never get to see otherwise
17
Morton, a Maori, was able to gain access to this group for a day and a half to portray their story, which most people would never get to see otherwiseCredit: IMP Features/Casey Morton
Morton was granted access into this tough world through two of his cousins who are members
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Morton was granted access into this tough world through two of his cousins who are membersCredit: IMP Features/Casey Morton
Earning badges requires guts as members go through horrific initiation processes
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Earning badges requires guts as members go through horrific initiation processesCredit: IMP Features/Casey Morton
The gang members were told to just be themselves for the photoshoot
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The gang members were told to just be themselves for the photoshootCredit: IMP Features/Casey Morton
Casey Morton, has captured the contradictory existence of belonging to one of New Zealand’s most powerful gangs
17
Casey Morton, has captured the contradictory existence of belonging to one of New Zealand’s most powerful gangsCredit: IMP Features/Casey Morton
Morton said he gave them no direction and wanted them to look natural
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Morton said he gave them no direction and wanted them to look naturalCredit: IMP Features/Casey Morton
After documenting the gang, Morton said his views of gang life have become more enlightened
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After documenting the gang, Morton said his views of gang life have become more enlightenedCredit: IMP Features/Casey Morton
Morton used a Nikon D810 to capture the extraordinary shots
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Morton used a Nikon D810 to capture the extraordinary shotsCredit: IMP Features/Casey Morton

According to a memoir by former Mobster Tuhoe ‘Bruno’ Isaac, in a rival gang named Mongrel Mob, members are forced to "drink excrement and urine from a gumboot, rape someone, or fight three guys at once for a minute and survive on your feet".
After documenting the gang, Morton said his views of gang life have become more enlightened.

He said: “Hanging out with the gang was an interesting and quite confronting experience.

"I had my preconceived ideas about what it would be like to hang with a notorious gang, and while some of these ideas were true, many of my concerns were proven to be wrong.

"The gang were extremely generous of their time with me… at times I felt like I was just hanging out with family, uncles and brothers, but at the same time you also knew and could feel that there was a dark side to them."

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