His father had previously worked at a Chinese laundry in New Zealand before returning to China's Guangdong province where he married Tam's mother.

Under the direction of the local Dunedin Mob president, Tam became a field officer for the Department of Labour's Group Employment Liaison Scheme.

While living and working in Wellington, the Mongrel Mob conferred on Tam the status of honorary life membership in recognition of his support and skills to the group.

[1] During a 2021 interview with TVNZ journalist Jack Tame, Tam attributed the appeal of gang membership to poverty, lack of education and skills and abuse in institutional care.

[7] In January 2018, Tam objected to the sale of counterfeit Mongrel Mob gang patches on the Chinese online retailer AliExpress, urging buyers to return the items to the seller and to ask for their money back.

[14] In mid-July 2021, Tam attracted criticism from the New Zealand Jewish Council spokesperson Juliet Moses for chanting the Nazi victory salute "Sieg Heil in a video.

Moses described the video as offensive to New Zealand Jews particularly Holocaust survivors while Labour MP Michael Wood described Tam's Sieg Heil chant as "apalling.

"[15] On 9 October 2021, Tam threatened legal action against New Zealand First leader Winston Peters for alleging that a female sex worker connected to the Mongrel Mob had caused the Northland Region's COVID-19 scare by traveling to Whangārei on false pretenses.

He subsequently published a Facebook post stating that Labour MP for Dunedin Ingrid Leary had "gatecrashed" his meeting and was hesitant to be associated with him.

[22] During the lead up to the 2023 general election, Tam was a vocal critic of the National Party's anti-gang policy, which he argued failed to address the root causes of gang membership and violence.

His appointment was criticised by abuse survivor advocate Paora Moyle and Tam's former partner Charlotte Mildon, who alleged that he was using "standover tactics" against her over a separation dispute.