The not-so-nice side of New Zealand: Notorious Maori 'Black Power' gang is captured in striking portraits showing off their intricate full-face tattoos

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Despite the tech world's movers and shakers flocking to New Zealand for the tranquil way of life, the Land of the Long White Cloud isn't all farms, entrepreneurs and rolling hills.

Out of the public eye is one of the nation's most infamous gangs Black Power, whose members operate in a lawless and hyper-violent world.

Despite being underground, Sydney photographer Casey Morton managed to pry open a window into the lives of member with a set of candid portraits.

Morton earned the trust of the notorious mob - made up of mainly Maori and Polynesian members - in order to shed light on their story. 

What followed was a striking glimpse into the gang.

Sydney photographer Casey Morton captured candid photos of members of Black Power, one of New Zealand's most infamous gangs

Bearing full-face tattoos, the gang's appearance lives up to their brutal reputation

Photographer Casey Morton's desire to capture gang members was to 'show them for who they really are' 

'I have some relatives who are associates, so I used them to bridge the divide,' Morton told Daily Mail Australia.

'I wanted to show another side to what Black Power is about. The idea was to show them for who they really are and let people make up their own mind.' 

He jetted to Christchurch to meet with members of the local chapter and shoot them in a clubhouse.

Wearing blue and black gang colours and bearing full-face tattoos, the gang's appearance matches their fearsome reputation. But Morton said he felt safe.

'Beforehand they laid the ground rules. At times I felt very intimidated by them, but I never felt unsafe,' Morton said.

The photos offer a striking glimpse into members of the notorious Black Power gang

The patched vests, in the same way as outlaw bikie gangs in the US, signal the members' status. In order to earn them they must endure a gruelling initiation period that can span a year before they are officially welcomed.

The Black Power was founded in the 1970s to counter the Mongrel Mob, with whom they have a bitter and decades-long rivalry.

Tensions boiled over last month, when shots were fired at a Mongrel Mob member's funeral stormed by Black Power members in Whakatane, in the Bay of Plenty Region in the North Island of New Zealand.

But Morton believes BlackPower are not as violent as they once were, and says there is more to the group than meets the eye.

'The gang is not as violent as they once were, and what I saw on the day felt a lot more like a brotherhood than anything else.'

'At times I felt like I was just hanging out with family, uncles and brothers, but at the same time you also knew and could feel that there was a dark side to them.'

The members are reminiscent of characters portrayed in the 1994 New Zealand film, Once Were Warriors, about life in the slums of Auckland, including an eldest son who leaves his family to join a gang with facial tattoos.

Black Power members are shown wearing blue and black, the colours of the gang 

The Black Power gang is made up primarily of Maori and Polynesian men

A patched vest shows the status of members within the Black Power gang, in the same ways as outlaw bikie clubs

Photographer Casey Morton managed to pry open a window into the secretive lives of Black Power members

The photos shed light on the secretive lives of Black Power gang members 

Photographer Casey Morton flew to Christchurch to take photos of members of the local Black Power chapter in a clubhouse 

The Black Power gang has been described as 'more like a brotherhood than anything else' 

Black Power members were photographed over a day and a half to portray their story 

The aim of the photos was not to portray the gang members in a positive light, but to photograph them for who they really are and let people make up their own mind

Black Power is said to be 'a tough group who live by their own creed'