Police will have a “noticeable” presence across the Hawke’s Bay town of Wairoa in the wake of a gang brawl after a rugby game over the weekend that was caught on camera.
Acting Tairāwhiti Area Commander Inspector Darren Paki revealed the incident about 3pm on Saturday began as an altercation between teenagers which descended into a public brawl after adults — including members of the Mongrel Mob — became involved.
Paki said at least two people were moderately injured after receiving stab wounds, while two people were struck by a vehicle.
“Thankfully nobody was seriously injured or killed in this event, but it is sadly another shocking event that our community didn’t need.”
Around two dozen people involved in the fight have been identified, Paki said, and “a number” of arrests are expected to be made.
The majority of those involved who have been identified are gang members and associates “of varying ages” but “all of them are old enough to know what’s acceptable”, Paki said.
He called the incident “appalling” and said the extra officers are being deployed to “make sure the community feels supported and safe”.
“We are not tolerating this behaviour in our community and police will be making that message very clear to gangs over the coming days and weeks,” said Paki.
“There will be a noticeable police presence across Wairoa to ensure that gang members are held to account for the weekend’s incident and any other offending that they may be involved in.
“Wairoa is a great town with a strong community and people should be free to go about their daily lives, including watching a rugby game, without fear of gang members causing harm to the wider community.
“A few people have ruined what should have been a great event for the town.”
Police did not reveal the number of extra staff members being deployed but said they included tactical dog teams, investigators and frontline response staff from the wider district.
Wairoa Mayor Craig Little told Breakfast the community are “embarrassed, shocked and in disbelief” following the brawl.
“It’s just so disappointing with what Wairoa’s going through at the moment. We don’t need this and it’s just an embarrassment,” Little said.
“Where is the leadership of these gangs? They should have just jumped in there and stopped it.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 105 or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
