A shotgun pellet struck a child's car seat when Mongrel Mob and Black Power clashed in Taradale, Napier, on January 19, 2020. Photo / Warren Buckland
A shotgun pellet struck a child's car seat when Mongrel Mob and Black Power clashed in Taradale, Napier, on January 19, 2020. Photo / Warren Buckland
Police say gang tensions in Hawke's Bay are at similar levels to those seen when shots were fired in a fight in Taradale's main street one year ago.
Hawke's Bay area prevention manager inspector Marty James said Tamatea and Taradale were once again the hotspots of recent gang tension andhave prompted a number of arrests and a ramp-up in patrols since the beginning of December.
James said the level of gang violence is similar to when a shot fired in a gang fight in Taradale struck the rear of a child's car seat, while the child was in it.
The shotgun pellet was fired when between 30 and 40 Mongrel Mob and Black Power clashed in the suburb's CBD on January 19, 2020.
A 25-year-old man received injuries to his head, face and torso from a single gunshot, but the baby was unharmed.
On Sunday, one person was arrested after a fight in the car park of Pak'nSave Tamatea, Napier.
Police said between five and 10 people were involved in the brawl on the corner of Leicester Ave and Coventry Ave about 2.40pm on Sunday, including multiple gang members.
Inquiries are ongoing to determine the circumstances of the fight, including whether any weapons were involved.
James said the current gang tensions in the region are primarily due to members moving between unofficial territories.
"The altercations that are occurring between these gangs are due to affiliated persons moving in and out of suburbs, that each group has self-defined as their territory," he said.
"There may also be links to domiciling changes," he said.
"Policing of gangs is a major focus for Eastern District Police and over recent weeks a number of arrests have also been made for drug and firearm offences.
"We have increased our patrols and visibility in the Taradale and Tamatea areas to minimise the risk of gang tension."
Lifetime Black Power member Denis O'Reilly said an increase in gang members, a lack of inter-gang respect and the use of meth is driving an increase in gang activity. Photo / File
Former Black Power gang member Denis O'Reilly said the increase in gang members in the region, the use of social media and lack of old-school inter-gang respect are the driving forces behind the tensions.
"The factors at play stretch from a proliferation in gang numbers, primarily amongst the Mongrel Mob, to newer gang members who don't share life experiences and respect with one another that the older members learnt," he said.
He said the old agreement in the Bay that family homes of gang members were off-limits for assaults or retaliations was gone.
He also felt the lack of sports or active pastimes like rugby league was preventing youngsters from working off testosterone.
"The confounding factor of reduced inhibitions due to the use of methamphetamine also plays its role."
O'Reilly said the Taradale shooting was "breathtaking" and "without precedent", but warned a number of recent "close calls" could have resulted in death.
"I think it's possibly worse than this time last year," he said. "I'm grateful to the social gang leaders who have done their best to calm the waters since then, but we've been very lucky."
Last month, a man was rushed to hospital after being shot in a drive-by shooting in Tamatea on December 1.
Police also increased patrols in Taradale after a firearm was pulled during a fight involving 10 gang members at the intersection of Meeanee St and Pembroke St on November 22, 2020.
Inspector James added: "Any incident where gang members pose a physical risk to the public is prioritised."
An Omahu Mongrel Mob gang pad before it burned down on Saturday. Photo / File
A house thought to be a Hastings Mongrel Mob gang pad burned down on January 16, but James said the cause of it is not believed to be related to inter-gang tensions.
Inquiries are ongoing to determine the circumstances of the Omahu fire, which saw the property razed to the ground.
Inspector James urged anyone who feels unsafe or in immediate danger to call police on 111.
