Police presence boosted

Flowers on the Mohaka Viaduct underpass where a car ran off the road killing three occupants. Photo / Paul Taylor

Extra police are likely to be stationed in Wairoa for several weeks to reassure people of their safety after the deaths of three of the town's Mongrel Mob members in last weekend's Mohaka Viaduct underpass crash.

But police Eastern District prevention manager Inspector Dean Clifford hopes the peace of the first week will continue through the weekend. The last of the men's tangihanga will be held today.

Mr Clifford said yesterday the week had passed without incident despite the arrival of out-of-town members for the tangi, the first of which was held for 29-year-old Nathan Isaac yesterday at Erepeti Marae, in Ruakituri Valley Rd northwest of Wairoa.

Police had made their presence known around Wairoa on Thursday, a regular scheduled court day which featured people with connections to both the Mongrel Mob and Black Power movement, and there was a low-key presence around yesterday's tangi, mainly fronted by police staff who had liaised with victim families since the tragedy which occurred when a car left State Highway 2 and plunged into the Wairoa River just south of Raupunga last Saturday afternoon.

Police revealed a second vehicle was likely to have been involved and a suspect vehicle was relinquished to police in Raupunga, enabling them to investigate what role it may have played.

Mr Clifford said extra police have been in the Wairoa and Raupunga areas throughout the week. "Now, we are moving into what we could call the reassurance phase," he said.

It has been stepped up over the weekend, with a large number of visitors in town for the tangi, and a plan is in place for extra officers from throughout the Gisborne and Hawke's Bay police areas to be in the town over the next few days.

"I guess we could say we're moving into the reassurance phase," he said.

"We are aware there are people in the community who are concerned, but also we do have to be mindful of not adding to the fear by an over-visible presence."

The tangi for the two other victims, Ronald Rigby and TerryShane Stone, will both be held in Wairoa today, at different venues but each starting at 11am.

Meanwhile, the blue car that might have been involved in the crash is still under forensic examination in Gisborne.

Inquiry head Detective Senior Sergeant Brent Greville said a forensic examination would help determine whether it played a part in the crash.

The blue Honda Prelude was found on the side of a road in Raupunga on Thursday afternoon.