Gangs bringing outsiders into tense Palmerston North

6.00 pm

Police on Saturday expressed concern that most Mongrel Mob gang members arrested in raids of Palmerston North houses this week were from out of town.

Earlier in the week police searched houses occupied by the Mongrel Mob and associates in suburban Highbury, which has been the centre of tension between rival gangs since the fatal shooting of Black Power affiliate Wallace Whatuira on Waitangi Day.

Several arrests were made.

Today Palmerston North police Detective Dennis O'Rourke said it was a concern that gang members from outside the area had come into town.

"The fact that most of these were from out of town was of some concern to us."

He could not confirm how many arrests had been made, but said some were weapon related.

Yesterday a group of 35 patched Mongrel Mob members gathered outside court to support members facing charges.

"We weren't aware that there were that many here and I think that they had only recently arrived."

Mr O'Rourke said police were watching the situation. He had not heard any reports that the Black Power gang had out of town members arriving.

No gang-related incidents happened last night but Mr O'Rourke said not too much should be read into that.

"We keep our fingers crossed," he said.

He said the homicide inquiry was continuing and staff were getting a day off this weekend.

Yesterday police helped secure three vacant state houses in Highbury after Housing New Zealand Corporation inspected 11 properties following allegations some had been converted into a gym, a dog kennel and a bar.

The inspections found these conversions had not been done but several homes had broken windows, damaged doors and holed floors. One had a partially removed wall. Wrecked cars had been dumped in yards. In one house there was some gym equipment and in others signs that dogs had been kept inside.

Housing NZ spokesman Tom Bridgman said the searches were done yesterday because tenants waived their 48-hour notice.

New locks had been installed on the vacant homes.

Mr Bridgman said today that information gathered during the inspections was being analysed. He said the gym equipment and signs of dogs were not present in properties during inspections done last month.

He said the Tenancy Tribunal would decide if any tenants were to be evicted.

He said it would take a few days before further action would be decided on. If cases were taken to the tribunal it had a range of options it could consider.

Mr Bridgman said eviction was a "the real last resort end point".

He said in some cases HNZC would find evicted tenants another property.

HNZC did not ask people if they had criminal convictions.

"It's not part of the assessment process... our interest is their housing requirements. We cannot and will not discriminate against people.

"Our primary function is to house people in need. We do deal with a part of the market that the private market doesn't deal with. Our main reason for providing housing is to provide it for people in need."

However, he said tenants also were obliged to obey the law and not disturb the peace and comfort of their neighbours.

Fifteen families and some single people had asked to be removed from the gang-affected area.

Tomorrow a hui will be held which Palmerston North MP Steve Maharey, Mayor Mark Bell-Booth and representatives from Housing New Zealand and the police will attend.

- NZPA