Police allege one of the people assaulted a police officer, punching him from behind.
Fortunately the officer did not sustain any injuries. However, a police vehicle was significantly damaged.
"Due to the aggressive and violent behaviour of those individuals, police officers pepper sprayed a number of those involved," Ewers said.
A scene guard was placed at the property over the weekend.
Inspector Wayne Ewers said any attack on a police officer is a serious matter and would not be tolerated.
"Our Police officers come to work every day to keep our communities safe. It is unacceptable and alarming when someone tries to harm one of our staff, fortunately they were not injured in this incident but it could have been a lot worse," Ewers said.
"I want to reassure the community that we are treating this seriously and we will do everything we can to find whoever is responsible and hold them to account."
One of the street's residents spoke of seeing an argument between a "young fella" and a woman before the man was chased by another man and the woman around the house before the men ran off down the street and returned a short time later.
The "young fella" disappeared into the house but it wasn't long before more people, including gang members started arriving at the single-storeyed Housing New Zealand property.
Police were quick on the scene and locked down the street.
"There were so many people. Young people going crazy and screaming and yelling. They had softball bats and wooden poles like battens. I think they were yelling at the young fella in the house,'' the resident said.
"Police had the whole place blocked off. It was a full-on riot."
The neighbour said two ambulances arrived and one man was taken from the house and had blood all over his face.
It appeared when police had arrested one man and tried to take him to a police car, that had been reversed into the driveway as close as possible to the house, the bystanders "got a bit rough".
"Bits of wood were being thrown at the police who were taking the guy to the car. There were two police on him and about four others trying to get the guy to the car. The police took off with the guy in the car," the resident said.
"It was a full on riot then with angry people jumping around and the police just trying to calm things as best they could."
Another neighbour said they saw the windscreen of the police car get smashed as it left.
Wing mirrors on other police vehicles were also damaged, she said.
She said she was too scared to leave her house and watched from the safety of her home.
A guard was put at the front of the house on Sunday and three broken windows were boarded up yesterday.
She said the fire service were called to the property early on Sunday morning.
A 23-year-old Ōtangarei man appeared in the Whangārei District Court yesterdayon charges relating to the damage done to a police vehicle.
James Hemi Blyth was remanded in custody to appear again today. He is charged with being a member of a riot in Ōtangarei unlawfully damaged a police patrol vehicle and house windows, was a member of an unlawful assembly with intent to cause violence, resisting police, sustained loss of traction and failing to stop all on March 9.
Police are continuing to investigate and anyone with information is asked to contact Whangārei Police on (09) 430 4500 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
