Ōpōtiki Mongrel Mob Barbarians death: Prime Minister Chris Hipkins hits out over gang activity

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has hit out over the disruption caused in two Bay of Plenty towns by gang members - saying it is not okay that these communities felt intimidated.

Hipkins told the Rotorua Daily Post today the Government backed the police in order to take “proactive action in these sorts of circumstances”.

“It’s not okay that the local community were feeling intimidated. It’s not okay that schools ended up being closed because of safety concerns,” Hipkins said, following gang activity in Whakatāne and Ōpōtiki.

“We’ve recently changed the law to give police more powers around things like gang convoys. That new law has actually been used for the first time in the last 24 hours as a result of the situation in Ōpōtiki. So we are giving the police more tools to be able to deal with that.”

The comments come after police seized firearms, ammunition and offensive weapons from gang-related vehicles last night.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins speaking in Rotorua on Thursday. Photo / Andrew Warner

Eastern Bay of Plenty area commander acting inspector Tristan Murray said police conducted an operation in Ōpōtiki focused on disrupting unlawful gang behaviour.

Murray said police seized three firearms and six offensive weapons after searching eight gang-related vehicles.

“Firearms, ammunition and offensive weapons were located in five of the vehicles,” Murray said.

“Two people were charged for firearms offences and two were summoned to appear in court for possession of offensive weapons and drug-related charges.

“We are sending a clear message to gangs that unlawful behaviour will not be accepted.”

Murray said the police will be “a visible presence” in Opōtiki over the coming days after yesterday’s funeral procession for Mongrel Mob Barbarians president Steven Taiatini and will continue to disrupt unlawful or harmful behaviour.

Police confirm Taiatini was hit by 4WD

Police today revealed Taiatini died after being hit by a vehicle.

Detective Inspector Lew Warner said a burned-out Holden Colorado 4x4 found on Waiotahe Valley Rd was likely to have been involved in Taiatini’s death.

“Police are again appealing for anyone with information about Mr Taiatini’s death, no matter how insignificant they think it might be, to come forward and speak to police,” Warner said.

“We are particularly interested in hearing from anyone who saw a silver Holden Colorado 4x4 in the Ōpōtiki area on the evening of June 9.”

Warner said police knew several people saw what occurred and know what happened on the night Taiatini died.

Ōpōtiki and Whakatāne were effectively shut down yesterday as Steven Taiatini’s Mongrel Mob funeral procession caused massive disruption. Photo / Andrew Warner

Ōpōtiki and Whakatāne were effectively shut down yesterday as Taiatini’s Mongrel Mob funeral procession caused massive disruption. A closed highway created traffic chaos and police are investigating reports of gunshots.

Hipkins last night condemned the procession, saying “gangs contribute nothing to society”.

He said “gang convoys suck for everybody who is disrupted by them”.

“One of the reasons that we’ve changed the law to give police more powers to crack down on gangs is because I don’t have any time for that kind of behaviour,” Hipkins said.

National Party leader Christopher Luxon told Newshub that Ōpōtiki had been “overtaken” by a gang after the death of the Mongrel Mob Barbarians president.

Luxon said people in Ōpōtiki are living in fear because of gang tension and they deserve better.

MP Rawiri Waititi tells Hipkins and Luxon to ‘shut their mouths’

MP for Waiariki Rawiri Waititi said earlier today that he believed both Hipkins and Luxon needed to “shut their mouths”.

“Whakatōhea are doing their best to de-escalate the situation and ensure the wellbeing of everyone living in our region. They have been in regular contact with whānau, hapū, iwi and are working closely with community leaders, police and social agencies to ensure appropriate safety measures are in place,” Waititi said.

Waititi said, in his view, Luxon and Hipkins had “no business whatsoever” commenting on matters they knew nothing about.

“They know nothing about Te Whakatōhea, they know nothing about the situation, and they certainly know nothing about our people; our whānau and iwi members who also happen to be affiliated to gangs,” he said.

MP Rawiri Waititi said Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and National leader Christopher Luxon needed “to shut their mouths”. Photo / Marty Melville

Waititi said lives were at stake and everyone external to the situation “must deeply reflect” on their contribution to the issue before making any comment.

“Keep my iwi’s name out of your mouth,” Waititi said.

Waititi said gang affiliation was not the root of the problem.

“It is but a symptom of entrenched poverty, disconnection to identity and trauma that is perpetuated by successive Governments because they think they know what is best for our people.”

Luxon said the Prime Minister needed “do his job” to ensure Kiwis felt safe in their homes.

“Chris Hipkins needs to stop speaking out of both sides of his mouth on every issue and do his job to ensure Kiwis feel safe in their homes, businesses and communities.”

National leader Christopher Luxon. Photo / Alex Burton

Responding to Waititi’s comments, Luxon said his priority was the children and families in Ōpōtiki.

“[They] don’t deserve their lives to be disrupted and inconvenienced because gangs came to town,” Luxon said.

“I acknowledge that a man has unexpectedly died, and friends and family are rightfully grieving their loss.

“However, I will not be quiet when schools in a New Zealand town are shut for an entire week because gang members have flooded in. That is utterly unacceptable and I will always speak up for the rights of New Zealanders to go about their daily lives, free from fear of crime and intimidation.”

Luxon said gang membership was up 66 per cent under the Labour Government.

Speaking to the Rotorua Daily Post today, Hipkins said “chest-beating” wouldn’t move the country forward.

In response to Rawiri Waititi’s comments, Hipkins told the Rotorua Daily Post: “As Prime Minister, I absolutely have a right to comment on issues that are affecting New Zealanders and particularly where community safety is concerned. And there were concerns from the local community around their safety and them feeling intimidated.

“I think it’s absolutely appropriate for me to comment on those and to provide reassurance that we’re supporting the police to do the difficult job that they need to do.”

In response to Luxon’s comments, Hipkins said: “I don’t want to see any New Zealander joining a gang. I don’t think gangs have any useful contribution to make to New Zealand society.

“We have to deal with the underlying reasons why people end up going into gangs in the first place. If we can create an economy and a society where everyone has a place, where everyone has a good, well-paying job, where everyone is able to work hard and get ahead, then actually, we won’t see so many people going into gangs in the first place.”

On Monday, Puwhakamua rehabilitation programme founder Billy Macfarlane snr said Taiatini needed to be acknowledged for the “good stuff he’s done”.

“He’s worked seriously hard to help make changes in the methamphetamine harm space. He and his partner, Pauline, have done a lot of work even in Rotorua.”

Macfarlane said Taiatini’s death was a “tragedy” and that he was “going to be missed”.

“He wasn’t a bad guy. He was quite a pleasant fellow to talk to and he wanted to do good.”

Maryana Garcia is a regional reporter writing for the Rotorua Daily Post and the Bay of Plenty Times. She covers local issues, health and crime.