No Dreadlocks No Cry

When you talk about terrorism, most people in New Zealand think about problems overseas. But those in Gisborne and the East Coast merely cast their minds back years to the Ruatoria Troubles. From 1985 until 1990 the township was terrorised by a Maori sect calling itself The Rastafarians. Their story is one of the most bizarre chapters in modern New Zealand history. Yet most Kiwis under the age of forty have never heard of The Rastas or their reign of terror …until now. Ngati Dread Volume Two is entitled No Dreadlocks No Cry and refers to an impromptu song sung by police to the tune of Bob Marley’s No Woman No Cry following accusations from Ruatoria Rastafarian Dick Maxwell that they’d cut off his hair. The second volume in this series takes a close look at the trial of the policemen for the kidnap and assault of Maxwell. No Dreadlocks No Cry also chronicles three other cases in which police were alleged to have assaulted Rastafarians and most of the major fires in Ruatoria, including churches and a marae.
Gillies interviews Dion Hutana, who was converted to Rastafarianism by leader Chris Campbell in prison, escaped and burned down Ngati Porou Marae in Ruatoria, as well as other key players in the Ruatoria Troubles.

Author Biography

Angus Gillies is a TV producer on 3 News. He has written a novella The Lizard Song, sports biographies on All Black Justin Marshall, rugby league star Matthew Ridge and cricketer Adam Parore and the first volume of Ngati Dread, Footsteps of Fire. Gillies is married to Tui and has three sons: Rogie, Pele and Cassius.