Two people have been arrested and shots have been fired from a vehicle, as gang members descended on Ōpōtiki this morning for the tangi of the Mongrel Mob Barbarians gang president Steven Rota Taiatini.
Taiatini, 45, was found seriously injured at a Saint John St property at 11.05pm on Friday. Despite the efforts of emergency services, Taiatini died of his injuries.
Several shots were believed to have been fired towards a vehicle in Whakatāne, near an area known as the hub, just after 4pm, Bay of Plenty District Commander, Superintendent Tim Anderson, said this afternoon.
There are no reports of injuries at this stage. However, police are in the area making inquiries to locate those involved.
One vehicle believed to be involved in the incident has been seized by police.
This morning roads were closed by police between St John St and Bridge St as gang members flooded into town for a tangihanga procession.
The group are in town for the tangi of a dead gang leader who was allegedly murdered (Source: 1News)
"Bikes can be heard revving in the distance, and large clouds of smoke are coming from the gang pad," a 1News reporter said.
They added hundreds of Mongrel Mob members pulled into town this morning.
A large crowd of locals also gathered to watch the procession.
Part of State Highway 2 between Ōpōtiki and Whakatāne had been closed, but has since reopened in both directions.
"We again thank our locals in the area for complying with this closure and for the inconvenience it may have caused – we appreciate the impact this has had on you," Anderson said.
There will be a visible police presence in Ōpōtiki as officers "continue to capture unlawful behaviour following the tangi for Steven Taiatini today".
"Our staff will be highly visible in both communities this evening and in the days ahead across the Bay of Plenty region," he said.
"Police have been actively patrolling this afternoon and collecting footage of the dangerous driving behaviour of some of the procession members.
"We have already identified a number of drivers and registered owners and they can expect to receive infringement notices, and in some cases, be charged for their actions for driving behaviour and face the court."
Anderson said police have today obtained a search warrant allowing officers to search the vehicles of suspected gang members and seize their weapons "during times of conflict".
Two people were arrested for possession of a firearm and cannabis.
Luxon slams Labour's gang 'inaction'
Appearing on Breakfast this morning, National leader Christopher Luxon said Labour's "inaction" around the gang presence in Ōpōtiki after a gang leader's alleged murder is "unacceptable".
Two schools have closed their doors of "their own accord", Ōpōtiki mayor David Moore has said. The primary school was open, but many parents chose to keep their tamariki at home.
The National party leader said the Government doesn't have the situation "under control". (Source: Breakfast)
But Luxon says Prime Minister Chris Hipkins should be taking action and children should feel safe going to school.
"We've never had a situation where schools have closed because gangs are in town, and I appreciate there's a tangi and I get that and there's a loss there and I understand that but actually funerals happen all across the country and we don't shut schools down because of that.
"Why on earth do parents and students just trying to go about their daily business have to be inconvenienced because gangs have come to town for a week."
Luxon said it's the prime minister's job to ensure New Zealanders feel safe in their homes, their businesses and in the community.
"I'm standing up for those people because I don't get why in this country we now say that that's an acceptable standard where schools get shut down, bus services can't be utilised."
However, lifetime Black Power member Dennis O'Reilly said this is a tragic situation and politics should be kept out of it.
He said the situation is very much under control and local authorities have a handle on it.
"I think the New Zealand Police have got a very firm grip on this issue, I think the mayor articulated the feeling of the town that they are not under siege and that to give the grieving family time to grieve and to keep politics out of it."
O'Reilly said every time situations like this are politicised, they escalate.
"I believe that the school officials have got a good grip on things, they're doing the best for their students, whānau take sensible precautions when emotions are high, this is a tragic and undesirable event but it is what it is."
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