Explosives 'buried for a number of years' removed from old Outlaws gang pad in Ahuriri, Napier

The Outlaws gang pad was a hotspot for police raids when it was standing. Photo / File

The torching of an infamous Outlaws Motorcycle Club house in Napier could have ended with a bang.

The now-demolished gang pad, that became something of a local landmark in Ahuriri, was due to be set alight for a Fire and Emergency NZ exercise earlier this year, until explosives were found.

The explosives were removed and the controlled burn was cancelled. The house was dismantled using heavy machinery.

A police spokesperson said in mid-March police received information relating to potentially suspicious items on the Kenny Rd site.

"Police inquiries led to the discovery of a small number of explosive items which had been buried at the property," a police spokesperson said.

The chance to burn down the Outlaws gang house in Ahuriri was seen as a 'once in a million' opportunity for firefighters. Photo / Paul Taylor

"The items appeared to have been buried for a number of years."

The explosives were not inside the house, but on the property itself.

The fire exercise was going to involve more than 30 Hawke's Bay volunteer firefighters, with the house being burned down over the course of a day.

A Fire and Emergency NZ spokesperson said following advice from police, "we took the precautionary measure of postponing the proposed training event".

He said they had since found another house which firefighters could use as a training exercise.

Police said no members of the public were at risk from the explosives and police would not be conducting an investigation.

There were controlled explosives left on the Outlaws' property. Photo / Warren Buckland

A New Zealand Defence Force spokesperson said explosives were removed from the site, now owned by Vision Homes.

"We can confirm three improvised explosive devices were taken to a remote location and disposed of by controlled detonation."

Vision Homes owner Alan Dick has previously said he was looking to develop the property in the middle of 2020 and the company was still in the early stages of design for two-storey townhouses.

Mr Dick has the same name as Regional Councillor Alan Dick - Hawke's Bay Today wishes to make it clear that the regional councillor Alan Dick is not the owner of the Vision Homes.

Armed police and the Armed Offenders Squad raid the Outlaws Club gang pad in 2018.