Senior members of the North Shore Head Hunters are accused of using the proceeds of "significant drug-dealing activity" to fund "luxury international holidays", that included flying first class and staying in five-star accommodation.
By Sam Sherwood of RNZ
It can also be revealed that one of the founding members was living in Dubai before they were arrested, and had started a luxury vehicle rental company with cars including a Rolls Royce and two Lamborghinis.
The allegations are detailed in a court document summarising the prosecution case in relation to Operation Juneau, which has been obtained by RNZ.
There are six defendants in total including Elias Richard Robert Gaitau. Gaitau faces charges of participating in an organised criminal group, possessing Class A or Class B controlled drugs, money laundering, being a director of a company while prohibited and making a false statement.
He has pleaded not guilty, and is due to go on trial in March next year.
The court document alleges that over a period of two and a half years members of the North Shore Head Hunters Motorcycle Club (NSHH) dealt in kilogram quantities of methamphetamine and other drugs while also pursuing arrangements to establish importation pathways for significant quantities of methamphetamine.
"Significant proceeds from that offending were laundered through financial and cryptocurrency accounts, and were used to fund extensive luxury travel and other high-value expenditure by the senior members of the group."
Police's National Organised Crime Group (NOCG) conducted several investigations between 2022 and 2025 into suspected drug dealing and money laundering involving members and associates of the NSHH.
"Operation Juneau brought those investigative strands together and examined the NSHH's organised criminal activity during that period, particularly the large-scale supply and proposed importation of controlled drugs and the laundering of the resulting proceeds."
The court document said Gaitau was a member of the East chapter of the Head Hunters for over 10 years.
It is alleged that in 2022 he obtained a property in Dairy Flat, and was a founding member of the NSHH chapter.
"The property was rented under an associate's name, but Mr Gaitau had actual control over the property and established this as the "Dairy Flat Pad" for the NSHH. Mr Gaitau kept the master bedroom for himself."
Police allege that between 2023 and early 2025, members of the NSHH regularly dealt in large quantities of class A controlled drugs, mainly methamphetamine.
"Across this same period, Mr Gaitau accrued significant wealth and engaged in significant expenditure, despite having no legitimate employment or apparent legitimate source for these funds. Instead, the funds were the proceeds of the NSHH's significant drug-dealing activity.
"Social media feeds, travel records, cash spending, bank accounts and cryptocurrency records all show growth in a lavish lifestyle."
The document said that throughout 2023 and 2024, Gaitau and other senior NSHH members went on "luxury international holidays", flying business or first class and staying in five-star accommodation.
In 2024, Gaitau moved permanently to Dubai and in the months before he was arrested he had started a luxury vehicle rental company there with cars including a Rolls Royce and two Lamborghinis.
The other five defendants face charges including supplying methamphetamine, offering to supply methamphetamine, supplying cocaine, and conspiring to bring a false accusation.
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