The mayor of Whakatane, Colin Hammond, is meeting this afternoon with police iwi liaison officers, local kaumatua and other community leaders as part of efforts to address recent gang-related violence in the east coast city.
The meeting comes the day after six people appeared in the Whakatane District Court charged in
relation to three separate incidents during the last five days.
Among those to appear yesterday was Thomas Taki, 22, unemployed, of Whakatane.
He did not enter a plea to a charge of assaulting Te Rangi Tait Carroll last Saturday. Mr Carroll, a Mongrel Mob associate, was found dead later that day following a street brawl. Judge David McKegg remanded Taki in custody to June 6.
Three other men were remanded in custody to June 12 without plea on joint charges of unlawfully possessing firearms.
Harry Tapsell 31, unemployed, of Kawerau, Douglas Brian Tarei 25, unemployed, of Te Teko, and Scobie Koopu Albert Te Poono 38, unemployed of Kawerau, were jointly charged with unlawful possession of a 357 magnum pistol and a 12 gauge shotgun at Whakatane on May 27.
Tarei was also charged with receiving a stolen 357 magnum pistol on the same date.
In a separate matter, Stephen Tipene Tihi, 25, unemployed of no fixed abode and Wayne Rena Dillon, 21, unemployed of Ruatoki, appeared on joint charges of unlawful possession of a single barrel shotgun on May 28.
Tihi pleaded not guilty to the charge while Dillion entered no plea. Denying the bail application, Judge McKegg remanded Tihi and Dillon in custody to June 6.
- DAILY POST (ROTORUA)
