Unit 88
Encyclopedia
Unit 88 was a neo-Nazi organisation founded in Wellington by Collin Wilson and it based itself in Auckland
, New Zealand. They were most active during 1997-8 and are now defunct. There leader was a Skinhead called Jay Bar, the son of a notorious Bank Robber from Southland.
They Claimed other groups in New Plymouth
, Nelson
, Timaru
, Bay of Plenty
and Christchurch
, the group organised meetings for around 100 people, primarily skinheads, every week in a warehouse in Auckland. Named for the use of 88
as a reading of 'HH' or Heil Hitler as commonly employed by neo-Nazi groups, they also employed the name of racist skinhead movement Blood & Honour as their motto. They also sought ot expand in Wellington
, distributing propaganda in the city. Seen as one of the more violent groups in New Zealand, Unit 88 have argued that they only used violence in self-defence.
The movement was investigated by the Race Relations Office for distributing pro-Nazi literature in 1997. The investigation was supported by Minister of Justice Doug Graham
, who intimated this in response to a question by New Zealand National Party
MP Pansy Wong
http://www.vdig.net/hansard/archive.jsp?y=1997&m=11&d=19&o=3&p=3. At the time it had been claimed that Unit 88 was in the process of seeking to expand its membership throughout the country. Largely a racist skinhead
movement, which claims to have around 100 members, links have been alleged between Unit 88 and Colin King-Ansell
.
Unit 88 hosted a large National Meeting for White Nationalist from around New Zealand in their Auckland base. This was leaked to the media and caused some trouble with local gangs and police. Unit 88 disbanded and selected members joined with the New Zealand Hammerskins
who were also expanding at that time. Mr Bar set up a group called 88 Hammers as part of the process to fully join the Hammerskin Nation. The Dominion and the Press news papers reported the link as police raids and street conflict was drawing police attention in both Wellington and Christchurch.
Some attempts have been made to re-establish Unit 88, but it has stayed defunct. Other Skinheads who were part of the early formations of Unit 88 formed other groups like Frontline Skinheads in South Auckland and some joined with the other emerging Auckland group the Psycho Skins (also now defunct).
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand. They were most active during 1997-8 and are now defunct. There leader was a Skinhead called Jay Bar, the son of a notorious Bank Robber from Southland.
They Claimed other groups in New Plymouth
New Plymouth
New Plymouth is the major city of the Taranaki Region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after Plymouth, Devon, England, from where the first English settlers migrated....
, Nelson
Nelson, New Zealand
Nelson is a city on the eastern shores of Tasman Bay, and is the economic and cultural centre of the Nelson-Tasman region. Established in 1841, it is the second oldest settled city in New Zealand and the oldest in the South Island....
, Timaru
Timaru
TimaruUrban AreaPopulation:27,200Extent:Former Timaru City CouncilTerritorial AuthorityName:Timaru District CouncilPopulation:42,867 Land area:2,736.54 km² Mayor:Janie AnnearWebsite:...
, Bay of Plenty
Bay of Plenty
The Bay of Plenty , often abbreviated to BOP, is a region in the North Island of New Zealand situated around the body of water of the same name...
and Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, the group organised meetings for around 100 people, primarily skinheads, every week in a warehouse in Auckland. Named for the use of 88
88 (number)
88 is the natural number following 87 and preceding 89.- In mathematics :Eighty-Eight is a refactorable number, a primitive semiperfect number and an untouchable number...
as a reading of 'HH' or Heil Hitler as commonly employed by neo-Nazi groups, they also employed the name of racist skinhead movement Blood & Honour as their motto. They also sought ot expand in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, distributing propaganda in the city. Seen as one of the more violent groups in New Zealand, Unit 88 have argued that they only used violence in self-defence.
The movement was investigated by the Race Relations Office for distributing pro-Nazi literature in 1997. The investigation was supported by Minister of Justice Doug Graham
Doug Graham
Sir Douglas Arthur Montrose "Doug" Graham KNZM is a former New Zealand politician. He was an MP from 1984 to 1999, representing the National Party.-Early life:...
, who intimated this in response to a question by New Zealand National Party
New Zealand National Party
The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
MP Pansy Wong
Pansy Wong
Pansy Yu Fong Wong is a former New Zealand politician. She was New Zealand's first Asian MP, serving as a member of parliament for the National Party from 1996 to 2011...
http://www.vdig.net/hansard/archive.jsp?y=1997&m=11&d=19&o=3&p=3. At the time it had been claimed that Unit 88 was in the process of seeking to expand its membership throughout the country. Largely a racist skinhead
Nazi-Skinheads
White power skinheads are a white supremacist and antisemitic offshoot of the skinhead subculture. Many of them are affiliated with white nationalist organizations....
movement, which claims to have around 100 members, links have been alleged between Unit 88 and Colin King-Ansell
Colin King-Ansell
Colin King-Ansell is a prominent figure in far-right politics in New Zealand. He has been described as "New Zealand’s most notorious Nazi cheerleader and Holocaust denier".In 1967 he joined the National Socialist Party of New Zealand...
.
Unit 88 hosted a large National Meeting for White Nationalist from around New Zealand in their Auckland base. This was leaked to the media and caused some trouble with local gangs and police. Unit 88 disbanded and selected members joined with the New Zealand Hammerskins
Hammerskins
The Hammerskins, are a white supremacist group formed in 1988 in Dallas, Texas.The Hammerskins' primary focus is the production and promotion of white power rock music, and many white power bands were affiliated with the group. The Hammerskins were affiliated with the record label 9% Productions...
who were also expanding at that time. Mr Bar set up a group called 88 Hammers as part of the process to fully join the Hammerskin Nation. The Dominion and the Press news papers reported the link as police raids and street conflict was drawing police attention in both Wellington and Christchurch.
Some attempts have been made to re-establish Unit 88, but it has stayed defunct. Other Skinheads who were part of the early formations of Unit 88 formed other groups like Frontline Skinheads in South Auckland and some joined with the other emerging Auckland group the Psycho Skins (also now defunct).