Police on gang violence in Dunedin: 'It's not the Wild West'

Dunedin police have arrested six members and associates of Mangu Kaha (Black Power). Photo / File

By Timothy Brown

Dunedin police have arrested six members and associates of Mangu Kaha (Black Power) during an operation which followed violence by the gang in the city.

Five men and one woman were charged after two assaults in the central city last month.

Two patched members and an associate were charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm after a 25-year-old was knocked unconscious and attacked outside the Dunedin Casino in High St on June 25.

Two of the trio were then involved in a gang altercation, aided by three other gang members, in Stafford St on June 28.

Detective Sergeant Nik Leigh said the incidents marked an escalation of gang violence in Dunedin.

The Stafford St incident was thought to be a ''targeted gang turf'' attack.

The victims were a former gang member and a member of a rival gang, he said.

During the incident, a car was rammed by Mangu Kaha members, ending up on the footpath, and a gang member used a patu - a traditional Maori club - in the assault.

It occurred about 9.30am and Det Sgt Leigh said it was lucky innocent bystanders were not caught up in the violence.

''It's not the Wild West and the concern we have got ... is anyone could have got hurt,'' he said.

''It's not the usual kind of violence we see in Dunedin.''

The men involved in that incident were facing charges of assault with intent to injure and assault with a weapon.

The incidents punctuated a period of increasing gang violence related to methamphetamine which had not been seen in the city previously, Det Sgt Leigh said.

Standover tactics were now being used and not just targeting drug users.

''Families of those people [users] or just completely unrelated people are being targeted for standovers.

''It's not just gangs either,'' he said.

''We have got rogue operators that are doing standovers.

''It's going to get a lot worse before it gets better.''

Dunedin police would continue to target gangs and drug dealers.

''We're not going to tolerate this sort of carry on,'' Det Sgt Leigh said.

''There's been quite a bit of fear caused by this group for sometime.

''It was escalating .. It was getting out of control really.''

Four gang members and one associate - all males aged 21, 24, 26, 49 and 50 - remained in custody.

A 23-year-old woman was released on bail this week and would reappear in court in three weeks.

timothy.brown@odt.co.nz

- Otago Daily Times