New Zealand - Building owner had no idea it would become Rebels Motorcycle gang HQ

OFF THE WIRE
The owner of a Whangarei commercial building now leased by the Rebels motorcycle gang said he had no idea who they were before allowing them to move in.
The Whangarei man, who did not want to be named and was very hesitant to talk to the Northern Advocate yesterday, said he was now doing his best to sort out the situation.

The Rebels Motorcycle gang have set up at 37 Porowini Ave, in a commercial area of Whangarei.
In Australia, police say, the gang is involved in serious violence and the manufacture and trafficking of drugs.

But this week a Rebels spokesman said the club "wanted to cement itself in the community and have a positive impact" and had a no-drugs policy.

"We are here to make friends with the community and that won't happen by dealing drugs. It's not a gang. We are motorcycle enthusiasts and we don't have any involvement in meth. We know what it's done to our community ... it's a killer," the spokesman, known only as Guru, said.

But the building owner said when the lease was signed he was told that a boxing gym was going to be established and he was not aware of the lessees having links to the Rebels Motorcycle gang.
"We are the ones in the gun at the moment," he told the Northern Advocate.
He was not prepared to comment on whether he had spoken with police or the gang members since their presence at the building was confirmed last weekend.
"I can't say any more."
Whangarei police area commander Inspector Paul Dimery is meeting with Whangarei District Council officials to see if the gang can be moved out of the building.
Before the Rebels moved in the building had been used to teaching carpentry trainees.
The Rebels said the building had been set up primarily to be used as a kickboxing gym and a base for up to 12 businesses which would employ their members.
The businesses included selling firewood, recycling green waste, making large concrete garden ornaments and pots and developing a sophisticated system named "hot spot" to stop cars from being stolen.
WDC group manager environmental services Paul Dell said as the building was in a commercially zoned area it had to abide by the same rules as any other business and checks would be made to ensure it complied.
http://www.northernadvocate.co.nz/have-your-say/news/building-owner-had-no-idea-it-would-become-rebels-/3949995/