The pastor bringing God to New Zealand’s gangs | Compass

As gang numbers in New Zealand rise, the government is cracking down. But a different battle is unfolding from within. For many, it begins with confronting trauma carried long before the patch. Lucky Te Koha, a former gang member turned pastor, moves between rival chapters, where men are fighting for faith, family, and a chance to redefine who they are. Subscribe: https://ab.co/3yqPOZ5 Read more here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-31/new-zealand-cracks-down-on-gangs-that-pastor-is-trying-to-heal/106722116 Counselling and support services in Australia 1800 Respect, National counselling helpline: 1800 737 732 Bravehearts, counselling and support for survivors of child sexual abuse: 1800 272 831 Lifeline, 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention: 13 11 14 Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800 Headspace on 1800 650 890 (children and young people) ReachOut at au.reachout.com (children and young people) Counselling and support services in New Zealand Manaaki Tāngata | Victim Support: 0800 842 846 (victims of crime) LifeLine Aotearoa: 0800 543 354 Safe to Talk: 0800 044 334 (victims of sexual abuse) CHAPTERS 00:00 New Zealand’s gang crackdown 01:55 Meet Lucky Te Koha, the ex-gang member turned pastor 05:27 Lucky reflects on what drew him into a life of crime 11:00 Gangs come together in solidarity with survivors 15:43 Lucky shares his faith with the Mongrel Mob 20:27 New Zealand prison expansion 24:38 Healing the next generation Welcome to ABC News In-depth, where you'll find our long-form journalism and other videos to help you understand what's going on in the world around you. Note: In most cases, our captions are auto-generated. #ABCNewsIndepth #ABCNewsAustralia