Three firearms and ballistic armour were seized in a raid on a Napier house recently. Photo / NZ Police
Police have arrested 15 people while investigating recent shootings and other crimes they say are connected to gang conflict in Hawke's Bay.
Wairoa police,supported by staff from Gisborne, Napier and Hastings have concentrated on quelling gang conflicts for the past six weeks.
Arrests include members of the Mongrel Mob and Black Power, police said.
Five men have been charged with violence, firearms and drugs offences.
A further 10 were arrested on warrants to arrest.
It was not initially clear whether any of the charges related directly to the shootings or use of the weapons.
A dozen search warrants as part of the "ongoing" operation targeted organised crime, and included finding three pistols and a set of ballistic armour in Napier.
Acting Eastern Police District crime manager Detective Inspector Brent Greville said police will continue to target those who "involve themselves" in organised crime and illegal possession of firearms.
"Along with directly focusing on this type of offending, police will continue to have dialogue with gang and community leaders in an ongoing effort to prevent future violence."
Four weeks ago, shootings in Wairoa prompted an urgent telephone conference between police, community and agency leaders in a bid to find answers to decades-long, often-armed gang-based conflict in the area.
At the time Gisborne-based Tairawhiti (Gisborne, East Coast and Wairoa) area manager Inspector Sam Aberahama said there were incidents and details police were not being told.
After today's announcements he told Hawke's Bay Today there had been an "awesome response" from the community, with the formation of a community leadership forum across all sectors determined to set a strategy to resolve issues behind the problems and "to make a safer Wairoa".
Extra police resources had been put into the town at the time, including officers carrying firearms to safeguard the community.
The local focus on gangs is aligned with Police Commissioner Andrew Coster's announcement of the nationally coordinated Operation Tauwhiro.
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