The Killer Beez (Killa Bees) are a large Maori street gang based in New Zealand, mainly based in the South Auckland area. They were founded in 2003, as a large rogue street gang in Otara, as a spin-off of the larger "Tribesmen" gang.The Killer Beez were formerly headed by Josh Masters, a well-known kickboxer, also a former vice-president of the Tribesmen.
In 2013, there were 138 members in prison, up from 96 in 2011. Most Killer Bee inmates housed in Mt Eden Corrections Facility are housed in Delta Unit IS.
The New Zealand Companies Office lists Colourway Records as registered from February 19th of 2007 until the 25th of February of 2014. The company was directly owned by the partner of Josh Masters; Natalie Patricia Eyles.
The company address was listed at 9 Collett Road, Otara; a well known pad for The Killer Beez Gang.
The Killer Beez effectively controlled the record label Colourway Records. Colourway Records was among the assets seized by the New Zealand Police in the 2008 drug raids.
Colourway Records has released several titles, including Put Ya Colourz On, which also feature Young Sid and Josh Masters. They also released an album in 2008, Skull Fingers Up.
In May 2008, Josh Masters and 41 other members from both Tribesman and The Killer Beez gangs arrested in a police sting. In total 60 Killer Beez were arrested an operation which involved 110,000 intercepted messages. Charges included supplying methamphetamine, conspiracy to supply methamphetamine and money laundering. Masters pleaded guilty but fought to have that overturned, but failed.
In June 2008, several Killer Beez members were convicted for killing Chinese businesswoman Joanne Wang, after they ran her over in a Manukau shopping mall carpark in front of her eight-year-old son.
In November 2008, Josh Masters received a 'jailhouse beating' for an outburst in court, leading to complications in the trials of multiple associates.
On Saturday, May 15, 2010, Killer Beez member Latu Kepu killed prison guard Jason Palmer with a single punch at medium-security Springhill Prison. The death has been a rumored 'gang hit' ordered by the Killer Beez.
On 3 August 2012 Killer Beez President, Josh "Gravity" Masters was sentenced to 10 years and 5 months in prison for organizing drug deals after police intercepted thousands of his coded phone conversations.
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 Mr Huawai was sentenced to jail for four years, nine months by North Shore District Court Judge Pippa Sinclair.
In October 2016, Six guards were attakced, with three being injured in a premeditated attack at Auckland Prison at Paremoremo. The attack, occurred on the 19th of 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 was planned and carried out by members of the Killer Beez gang.
