Napier brawl: Dockside fight caps week of public violence

The West Quay dockside around where several men brawled in the mid-afternoon sunshine on Sunday afternoon.

Police said on Monday that no arrests had been made in relation to a mid-afternoon dockside brawl across the road from several bars in Napier.

At least five men traded blows beside a light truck near fishing boat moorings in West Quay, Ahuriri, on Sunday.

Spectators watched from across the road in outdoor dining and drinking areas of several bars and restaurants, as well as from cars and incoming boats.

Police said they received reports of the incident about 4pm. There were, however, no reports of injuries nor arrests, and ambulance services were not required.

Fight at Napier bar precinct

Watch: Brawl breaks out near Napier's West Quay bar precinct this afternoon

Posted by Hawke's Bay Today on Saturday, 23 November 2019

The incident was captured on cellphone video.

It came amid what was a week of violent public incidents in Napier.

All police in Hawke's Bay were armed for five days as a result of the several gang-related incidents on Sunday November 17, reviewed on a daily basis.

The decision was made to cease general arming on Friday morning.

In the first of those incidents, an apparent turf war at Anderson Park, a man in his 20s was admitted to hospital with a broken jaw.

Over the next few hours a person was reportedly struck by a vehicle across town in Geddis Ave, Maraenui, a man arrived at the Napier Medical Centre with a stab wound, and a shot was fired outside the Wellesley Rd centre after patched gang members had gathered in the area.

Witnesses to Sunday's fight said there was no evidence to suggest it was gang-related.