The man killed on Friday night in Ōpōtiki was the president of the Mongrel Mob Barbarians, the Herald understands.
Police today named Steven Rota Taiatini, 45, as the person killed in the “disorder-related incident” on St John St, Ōpōtiki. Police have opened up a homicide investigation into Taiatini’s death.
Over the weekend, police were on high alert due to the large gang presence that appeared in the area after Taiatini’s death.
An Ōpōtiki resident told the Herald yesterday they’d seen patched Mongrel Mob and Barbarians gang members “coming into town thick as anything... and there’s cops everywhere”.
The woman claimed that locals were worried about retribution attacks.