No arrests after rugby shootout

Police say it was a miracle nobody was hurt or killed when a Mongrel Mob member fired a shotgun into a crowd after a rugby match at Wairoa on Saturday. Photo / NZ Herald

Police have not yet made any arrests after a Mongrel Mob member fired a shotgun into a crowd after a rugby match at Wairoa on Saturday.

The incident happened about 4.30pm after a rugby game attended by a large number of Black Power members, who were supporting a team from Raupunga that played Wairoa-based team Tapuwai, Detective Sergeant John McCarthy told NZPA.

Police said the Raupunga team had Black Power connections and the Tapuwai team was aligned with the Mongrel Mob.

The game had progressed without incident, apart from a short scuffle on the sidelines between a Mongrel Mob and a Black Power member, when a white ute appeared in the area, with about six Mob members and associates on the back as people were leaving.

Two of the bigger gang members then jumped off and chased a 15-year-old boy.

After the gang members were restrained by people from the crowd a third person on the back of the ute fired four to five shotgun rounds in the air and into the crowd.

"It was a miracle no one was hurt,'' Mr McCarthy said.

Mr McCarthy said it was another cowardly gang shooting in Wairoa.

"Enough is enough,'' he said.

"The community needs to stand up and assist police... the number of gang shootings in Wairoa is becoming ridiculous and it is only a matter of time before an innocent bystander is injured or killed.''

The white Nissan ute was found at a house in Wairoa and police were making good progress in their inquiry, but have appealed to the public for more information.

As of this afternoon no arrests had been made, police spokeswoman Kris McGehan said.

Last October a Mongrel Mob member was shot through the window of his vehicle by a Black Power member at the Mobil service station in Wairoa.

Police recently arrested and charged a man over the shooting.

- NZPA