Tribesmen MC member killed in North Canterbury crash

Tribesmen Motorcycle Club

A Tribesmen MC member is dead after a motorcycle crash in North Canterbury.

The man was riding in convoy with about 70 other members of the motorcycle club when his Harley-Davidson collided with an oncoming car on Omihi Rd (SH1), Hurunui, about 1.5 kilometres south of Greta Valley, about 7.50am on Monday.

He died at the scene.

Stuff understands the man was en route to Picton to catch a ferry back to the North Island.

About 80 Tribesmen MC members from all over the country rode into Christchurch on Friday as part of a national gathering.

They stayed at the Heartland Hotel Cotswold on Papanui Rd, Merivale, after being rejected by at least two other accommodation providers.

On Saturday, members of the club were seen riding en masse in Christchurch and surrounding areas, such as Lyttelton.

They drove past Christchurch Men’s Prison, where many of the local chapter, including president Elder Browne, are in custody.

It’s thought there was also a patching ceremony for new members at the weekend.

Detective Inspector Michael Ford said police learned about a fortnight ago that Tribesmen MC members were coming to Christchurch en masse.

Additional staff, including some from other police districts, were rostered on to keep a close eye on them.

Ford said there were no major issues that could be linked to the club over the weekend.

He declined to comment about the crash.

The Cotswold Hotel declined to comment about the gang, but said they were “well behaved”.

In recent years, the Tribesmen MC has been considered a dominant player in Christchurch’s underworld.

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Source: Stuff by Blair Ensor, Sam Sherwood and Lee Kenny