A lifetime Black Power member says government efforts to reduce gang violence are working.

Denis O'Reilly says gang culture is becoming more open to women and families, and less aggressive.

He says Ministry of Social Development programmes focusing on reducing domestic violence are also having an impact.

O'Reilly told Mike Hosking most of the effort has gone into the two biggest gangs, Mongrel Mob and Black Power.

"You can start to see the shift amongst the attitudes of the leadership. You can see women and families are much more part of their social life, less sort of gangsterism as it were."

LISTEN ABOVE AS DENIS O'REILLY SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING