Long-standing feud blamed for fracas

Police believe a long-standing feud between two factions of the Indian community led to armed confrontations in Tauranga on Friday night. A 40-year-old man suffered moderate head, arm and leg injuries when he was beaten with a wooden bat in the initial fracas, which broke out on The Strand about 11 pm.

"Two groups of people had a heated argument on the corner of Wharf Street and The Strand, culminating in a fight involving quite a large number of people carrying weapons in The Strand reclamation car park," said Detective Sergeant Dave Archibald.

"We suspect the feud had been brewing for quite a while."

A 22-year-old Auckland man and a 29-year-old male kiwifruit picker from Tauranga are due to appear in Tauranga District Court today in connection with the incident.