KEY POINTS:
If a suspicious fire in Wanganui overnight was gang related it would be concerning, Maori Party joint leader Pita Sharples says.
A house on Akatea St in Gonville, possibly connected to gang members, was destroyed by fire just after 5am today.
Tensions between the Mongrel Mob and Black
Power have been high since toddler Jhia Te Tua was killed in a gang-related shooting 10 days ago.
Mr Sharples said he had not heard about the fire, but he was interested in any information that came to light.
"I'm not there to mollycoddle the gangs," Mr Sharples said.
"I believe any stuff they're doing against the law must be pursued by police and followed right through."
However, there was currently an opportunity with the gangs saying they wanted to change their ways, he said.
"We're stupid not to listen."
Wanganui Fire Service station officer Jess Sorensen said the fire was suspicious.
It was around the corner from the Puriri Street house where Jhia was killed. Police had canvassed the street last week.
Jhia's father is a Black Power member and four Mongrel Mob members are in custody on charges related to events leading up to her shooting.
The men were due to reappear in Wanganui District Court today.
Two men appeared in court last Tuesday, both facing charges of unlawful assembly. A 19-year-old was also charged with possession of an offensive weapon, namely a bottle, assault, unlawfully entering a building with the intent to commit a crime and taking part in a riot.
The other two men turned themselves in to police last Thursday and appeared in court but all details were suppressed.
Mr Sorensen said the house had been "razed to the ground". No one was injured in the fire.
Three fire appliances responded, and Wanganui police were at the scene.
It was as yet unknown if accelerants were used, Mr Sorensen said.
Jhia died from a gunshot in the chest on May 5, during a drive-by shooting.
Police had assigned a 50-strong team to investigate.
Officers had been to more than 300 houses in the area, and taken statements from more than 200 witnesses.
Three vehicles believed to have been involved have been located and forensically examined.
A toll-free phone line, 0508 FOR JHIA, was launched yesterday for people with information about the shooting.
Police were particularly interested in hearing from anyone who saw an incident at about 7pm on the night Jhia was shot, when bottles were thrown at her parents' house from a car containing Mongrel Mob members.
- NZPA
