Killer Beez

The Killer Beez emblem or "patch" consists of the words "Killer Beez" and that act as the surrounding rockers for their Skull Fingers Up emblem of a middle finger extended upright with a partially extended thumb. There must be exactly 13 bones which comprise the whole skull finger. This is evident in all of the gang's music videos, released on the Colourway Records music videos. The gang predominantly wear white black and yellow.

Killer Beez members are commonly referred to as Killer(s) or simply as KB by those closely associated with the gang.{{cite news|last1=Bradley|first1=Michael|title=Rapper Young Sid|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/features/profiles/272831/Rapper-Young-Sid|access-date=30 January 2018|work=Stuff NZ News|publisher=Sunday Star Times|date=31 January 2009}}

A common phrase within the gang's music, as well as being used in its logo, is the term AO, pronounced as separate letters, which is an acronym for the gang motto, All Out.

• Josh Masters (founder and overall Killer Beez leader)
• Vila Lemanu (high-ranking chapter leader){{cite news|last1=Fox|first1=Michael|title=Killer Beez boss on the run|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/5750010/Killer-Beez-boss-on-the-run|access-date=30 January 2018|work=Stuff NZ News|date=7 October 2011}}
• Rory O'Neill (member){{cite news|title=Police on alert ahead of Killer Beez gang member funeral in Waihi|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/98705313/police-on-alert-ahead-of-killer-beez-gang-member-funeral-in-waihi|access-date=30 January 2018|work=Stuff NZ News|date=9 November 2017}}{{cite news|last1=Dennett|first1=Kelly|title=Killer Beez member shot after jail release|url=https://www.pressreader.com/new-zealand/weekend-herald/20180113/281719794985134|access-date=30 January 2018|work=Weekend Herald|date=13 January 2018}}
• Christopher Shadrock (member)
• Hone Kay-Selwyn (member){{cite news|title=Ponsonby fatal shooting: Suspect Hone Kay-Selwyn found dead near Taupō, victim had no links to Killer Beez shooter|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/ponsonby-fatal-shooting-suspect-hone-kay-selwyn-found-dead-in-or-near-taupo/IASXKZATCRF6TDEKP52ZSOG5OQ/|access-date=8 May 2024|work=The New Zealand Herald |date=8 May 2024}}

The New Zealand Companies Office lists Colourway Records as registered from 19 February 2007 until 25 February 2014. The company was directly owned by the partner of Josh Masters, Natalie Patricia Eyles.{{Cite web|url=https://www.companiesoffice.govt.nz/companies/app/ui/pages/companies/1903535|title=COLOURWAY RECORDS LIMITED (1903535) Removed|website=www.companiesoffice.govt.nz|access-date=2 February 2017}} The company address listed was a well known pad for The Killer Beez Gang.

The Killer Beez effectively controlled the record label Colourway Records.{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Debates/Debates/5/8/8/49HansD_20091028_00000414-Crimes-Amendment-Bill-Local-Government-Amendment.htm|title=New Zealand Parliament - Crimes Amendment Bill, Local Government Amendment Bill, Sentencing Amendment Bill (No 3) — Third Readings|year=2011|quote=I ask members to consider a gang called the Killer Beez. It has its own hip-hop record label called Colourway Records. What does it do? It makes music videos—recruitment advertisements for gangs, thinly disguised as music videos, that are played on mainstream|work=parliament.nz|access-date=8 October 2011}} Colourway Records was among the assets seized by the New Zealand Police in the 2008 drug raids.{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10515994|title=44 in dock after drug raids|work=The New Zealand Herald |year=2011|quote=During the operation, police seized $200,000 in cash, 538g of pure methamphetamine with a street value of more than $500,000, nearly 400g of cannabis, 15 vehicles under the Proceeds of Crime Act, 12 firearms and all the assets from the business premises of Colourway Records in Ōtara.|access-date=8 October 2011}}

Colourway Records has released several titles, including "Put Ya Colourz On", which also feature Young Sid{{cite news|title=Top Kiwi rapper works 9 to 5 to pay the bills|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-news/entertainment/799543/Top-Kiwi-rapper-works-9-to-5-to-pay-the-bills|access-date=20 February 2017|work=Stuff NZ – Sunday News|date=17 January 2009}} and Josh Masters. They also released an album in 2008, Skull Fingers Up.{{cite news|title=Killer Beez a 'school for gangstas'|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2859299/Killer-Beez-a-school-for-gangstas|access-date=20 February 2017|work=Stuff NZ News|date=13 September 2009}}

• In May 2008, Josh Masters and 41 other members from both the Tribesman and The Killer Beez gangs were arrested in a police sting. In total 60 Killer Beez were arrested in an operation{{cite news |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10735773 |title=Out in force on the mean streets |work=New Zealand Herald |quote= But in 2008 police smashed both gangs wide open with a six-month cannabis and methamphetamine sting operation that arrested 60 Killer Beez members and put many of the gang's leaders in jail|access-date=8 October 2011 |first=Andrew |last=Laxon |date=2 July 2011}} which involved 110,000 intercepted messages.{{cite news|url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10625283 |title=Police bugs track 110,000 gang messages |work=New Zealand Herald |date=10 February 2010|quote=Police intercepted more than 110,000 phone and text messages between the Killer Beez and Tribesmen gang members during a major three-month drug operation in South Auckland and the Waikato |access-date=8 October 2011 |first=Tony |last=Stickley}} Charges included supplying methamphetamine, conspiracy to supply methamphetamine and money laundering. Masters pleaded guilty and fought to have that overturned,{{cite news |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/730774/Gang-boss-badly-beaten-in-prison |title=Gang boss badly beaten in prison |work=Stuff NZ News |year=2011 |access-date=8 October 2011}}{{cite news |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10754945 |title=Killer Beez boss seeks to have guilty plea revoked |first=Edward |last=Gay |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=28 September 2011 |access-date=8 October 2011}} but failed.{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/69659306/Josh-Masters-runs-Killer-Beez-gang-from-prison |title=Josh Masters runs Killer Beez gang from prison |work=Stuff NZ News |year=2015 |access-date=11 August 2015}}
• In June 2008, several Killer Beez members, including leader Vila Lemanu and member Christopher Shadrock, were convicted for killing Chinese businesswoman Joanne Wang, after they ran her over in a Manukau shopping mall carpark in front of her 8-year-old son.
• In November 2008, Masters received a 'jailhouse beating' for an outburst in court, leading to complications in the trials of multiple associates.{{cite news|last1=Smith|first1=Lawrence|title=Gang boss badly beaten in prison|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/730774/Gang-boss-badly-beaten-in-prison|access-date=22 February 2017|work=Stuff NZ – Sunday News|date=22 November 2008}}
• On 15 May 2010, Killer Beez member Latu Kepu killed prison guard Jason Palmer with a single punch at medium-security Spring Hill Corrections Facility. The death has been a rumoured gang hit ordered by the Killer Beez.{{cite news|last1=Cowlishaw|first1=Shane|title=Killer Beez president Josh Masters allegedly running gang from behind bars|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/83471552/killer-beez-president-josh-masters-allegedly-running-gang-from-behind-bars|access-date=20 February 2017|work=Stuff NZ News|date=23 August 2016}}
• On 3 August 2012, Masters was sentenced to 10 years and 5 months in prison for organising drug deals after police intercepted thousands of his coded phone conversations.{{cite news |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10824382 |title=Killer Beez gang founder jailed for more than 10 years |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=3 August 2012|access-date=2 October 2012}}
• In September 2014, Killer Beez associate Hendrix Hauwai, 17, attacked Lucy Knight, punching her in the head after she tried to intervene in a failed bag-snatch outside a North Shore supermarket. In February 2014, Hauwai was sentenced to jail for 4 years and 9 months by North Shore District Court Judge Pippa Sinclair.{{cite news|last1=Field|first1=Michael|title=Hendrix Hauwai jailed for attack on good samaritan|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/65946831/hendrix-hauwai-jailed-for-attack-on-good-samaritan|access-date=20 February 2017|work=Stuff NZ News|date=9 February 2015}}
• In October 2016, six guards were attacked with three being injured in a premeditated attack at Auckland Prison at Paremoremo. The attack occurred on 19 October 2016 after a group of inmates in C Block at Auckland Prison attacked guards with three suffering stab wounds to their heads, necks, hands and shoulders just before 2pm. It is widely thought by inmates at Paremoremo that the attack was planned and carried out by members of the Killer Beez gang.{{cite news|last1=Leask|first1=Anna|title=Six, not three guards injured in Paremoremo prison attack|url=http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/national/six-not-three-guards-injured-in-paremoremo-prison-attack/|access-date=22 February 2017|work=News Talk ZB|date=21 October 2016}}
• On 4 November 2016, prominent Killer Bee, Rory William O'Neill, was fatally shot in Blockhouse Bay, two months after being released from prison. O'Neill was reported to have asked not to be released due to the Killers Beez ensuring his safety within the prison system.{{cite news|last1=Dennett|first1=Kelly|title=Homicide victim released from prison just months before death|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11966378|access-date=30 January 2018|newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |date=13 January 2018}}
• In October 2017, members of the Killer Beez and the 36 (Three Six) gangs were involved in a shooting, where three males in Ōtara were shot in a drive-by shooting. Although the assailants were not identified, the victims of the shooting identified them as members of the gangs.{{cite news|last1=Harris|first1=Sarah|title='There was too much blood': Drive-by shooting victim recounts horror|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11930244|access-date=4 February 2018|newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |date=6 October 2017}}
• On 26 April 2019 Killer Beez head Josh Masters, a prominent gang member was shot by a member of the Tribesmen at a Harley Davidson dealership in Mount Wellington, Auckland. It was an extremely unusual event as both the Killer Beez and Tribesmen were very close gangs that were in a very strong alliance considering the Killer Beez was founded by the Tribesmen as a feeder gang for the Tribesmen.{{Cite news|url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/man-critically-wounded-auckland-harley-davidson-store-believed-killer-beez-gang-president|title=Man critically wounded at Auckland Harley Davidson store believed to be Killer Beez gang president|work=TVNZ|access-date=2020-04-20|language=en-NZ}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12225846|title=Gang expert: Concern as tension rises between Killer Beez and Tribesmen|date=2019-04-28|work=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=2020-04-20|language=en-NZ|issn=1170-0777}}
• In May 2022, conflicts between the Tribesmen and Killer Beez led to shootings in South Auckland. Seven shootings occurred in the suburbs of Ōtara, Papatoetoe, Flat Bush, Papakura, Te Atatū South,{{cite news |last1=Khabazi |first1=Marika |last2=Truebridge |first2=Nick |title=Police scramble to calm tensions after Auckland gang shootings |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2018843386/police-scramble-to-calm-tensions-after-auckland-gang-shootings |work=RNZ |date=25 May 2022 |language=en-nz}} Henderson and Mt Albert on the night of the 24th, with two more on the 25th.{{Cite news |date=2022-05-25 |title=Auckland shootings: Gang-related attacks 'shocking' - Phil Goff |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/467811/auckland-shootings-gang-related-attacks-shocking-phil-goff |access-date=2022-05-26 |work=RNZ |language=en-nz}}{{Cite news |date=2022-05-26 |title=Auckland shootings: Police investigate shots fired in two suburbs |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/467874/auckland-shootings-police-investigate-shots-fired-in-two-suburbs |access-date=2022-05-26 |work=RNZ |language=en-nz}} A week later, on the night of 3 June, another Beach Haven house belonging to a Tribesmen gang member was shot at.{{Cite news |title=Auckland house shot at belongs to Tribesmen gang members - neighbour |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/06/04/auckland-house-shot-at-belongs-to-tribesmen-gang-members-neighbour/ |access-date=2022-09-04 |work=1 News |language=en}}
• On 5 May 2024 Robert Sidney Horne was shot dead in Ponsonby, Auckland, by Killer Beez member Hone Kay-Selwyn. Hone Kay-Selwyn was found dead in Taupo on 8 May 2024

{{Portal|New Zealand}}

• Gangs in New Zealand
• Black Power (New Zealand)
• Mongrel Mob
• King Cobras (gang)

{{reflist|30em}}

Category:Gangs in New Zealand