The Mercury Bay Rugby and Sports Club is developing a clear plan for meaningful change
after players allegedly accosted a female DJ and engaged in a brawl at the Monkey House Lounge in Whitianga on July 18, 2026.
What began as a quiet event at the Monkey House Lounge and Cabaret descended into chaos when a group of men, identified by their clothing as members of the Mercury Bay Rugby Club, allegedly targeted performers and disrupted the venue.
Chaos at the Monkey House: The July 18 Timeline
According to reports from Stuff, the atmosphere at the Midwinter Bass Shift event remained friendly until approximately 12:30 a.m. At that point, Auckland DJ Molly Parker, performing as Hexiis, says a group of 12 to 15 men wearing Mercury Bay Rugby Club dress shirts arrived. Parker alleges the men repeatedly attempted to climb onto the stage and ignored her requests to keep their distance.
The situation escalated when one man began interfering with Parker’s equipment. She told Stuff she felt incredibly unsafe
, describing herself as being surrounded by grown men who refused to back off. The confrontation peaked when a man threw a full drink at her, soaking both Parker and her DJ equipment, which she estimated is worth more than $5,000.
Fellow DJ Amber White, known as Slaps, intervened to help Parker. White reported that she physically removed a man who refused to leave and instead stood over her. This led to a physical altercation where White’s partner stepped in, resulting in White’s arm being smashed into a wall.
“It was shocking to me to see two men being so abusive and the rest of the boys there, bar one, just laugh and find it incredibly funny. Like it is not funny.”
Amber White, DJ
The disorder eventually spilled outside the venue. Kaspur Franke, representing the Monkey House, described the behavior of the rugby club members as disgraceful and disrespectful
and noted that the men had to be physically escorted out after refusing verbal requests to leave. This resulted in a melee involving about six men, during which a performer was injured.
Police Response and Legal Action
Police were called to the bar on Coghill St at 1:30 a.m. following reports of two men fighting and behaving aggressively. According to police statements cited by the NZ Herald and Stuff, at least one other person at the bar was assaulted by one or both of the men. While an ambulance was not required, officers took statements and are continuing follow-up inquiries.
The two primary suspects had already left the scene by the time police arrived. The Monkey House management indicated that they had previously trespassed the men for two years, suggesting a recurring history of conflict between the venue and certain club members.
Mercury Bay Rugby Club’s Culture Review
The incident has triggered a crisis of reputation for the Mercury Bay Rugby and Sports Club. Chairman Mike Skeen stated that the club is aware of the incident and fully supports the police investigation. Skeen emphasized that the alleged behavior does not reflect the values of our club
and strongly condemned violence and harassment, particularly against women.
However, the club’s response suggests the issue extends beyond a single night of disorder. The club is now working with the Thames Valley Rugby Union, New Zealand Rugby, and independent experts to address broader concerns regarding harm toward women and the internal culture of the organization.
The club has publicly acknowledged that it takes concerns about violence and the safety of the community seriously, though it noted that privacy obligations and legal processes limit the specific details it can share at this time.
Systemic Issues and Community Stakes
For the victims and venue owners, the brawl was not an isolated event but a symptom of a larger social problem. Co-owner Molly Molloy described a culture of misogynistic men
who believe there are no consequences for their actions, specifically within sporting organizations.
The intersection of alcohol and sporting celebrations in town has been identified by Amber White as a recurring source of microaggressions and danger for women. The call from the Monkey House is now for the wider community to step up and call out “sketchy” behavior to ensure that violence is not an expected part of a night out.
The resolution of this event now rests on two tracks: the criminal investigation by police into the assaults and the structural overhaul of the Mercury Bay Rugby Club. The success of the latter will depend on whether the meaningful change
promised by the club can dismantle the culture of impunity described by the venue’s operators.
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