UPDATED 8.53am A gang expert says the government should consider letting gang members work in prisons on a case-by-case basis.

It comes as Black Power member Ngapari Nui has been stood down the from volunteer rehabilitation work he's been doing at Whanganui Prison.

Corrections Minister Judith Collins said the only place for gang members in prisons is behind bars, and her department has now been ordered to see whether there are any other active gang members working in prisons.

However, sociologist at the University of Canterbury Jarrod Gilbert said gang members might actually be able to connect with inmates, on a level others can't.

Mr Gilbert said no one is saying we should just start letting every gang member work in prisons.

But, he said, we should look into Mr Nui's case and consider on a case-by-case basis whether this can have positive effects.

Mr Gilbert said it's better to judge on what the man's achieved in his work, rather than who he associates with.

"Gangs are changing in New Zealand, and there are a lot of older members who may have something to offer, and by that I mean reaching out to people that perhaps you and I ordinarily might not have ordinarily been able to."

Officials are understood to be meeting today with local iwi Ngati Ruanui to help decide the future of Ngapari Nui.

Iwi member and Wharepuni Marae chairman Gordon Sole will be there - he told Newstalk ZB he hasn't seen Black Power cause any problems.

"Look, there's no problem here. I know where the headquarters are and I know some of the members that are in it and I've not seen them cause any problems. I'm not saying they haven't. I haven't seen it or been aware of it. I'm not in favour of gangs but I have not seen any problems in our area.

"Ngapari is a good man. I would not stand in his corner if I thought otherwise. He's there and he does do good work," said Mr Sole.

South Taranaki district councillor Andy Beccard told Newstalk ZB he's is also backing him.

"He's not the kind of guy recruiting Black Power members for criminal activities. It's just not going to happen. He'll be there doing what is best for the people that are in prison. Helping them.

"He does work with the local area a lot. He's their environmental person, I'm not actually sure we have dealings with them through the council. They're always good to work with."

Mr Beccard said if Mr Nui is doing a good job, he should be left to do it.