Autopsy shows teen died of head injuries

Jordan Herewini died after he was run down at this Murupara property. Photo / Alan Gibson

A post-mortem examination has shown an innocent teenager who was run down by a Toyota ute in Murupara on Tuesday died as a result of head injuries.

Jordan Herewini, 16, died after gang tensions in the small forestry town, 63km southeast of Rotorua, turned violent that night.

The teenager had no gang affiliations but was run down and killed by a utility vehicle stolen from his family home as rivalry between the Tribesmen and Mongrel Mob gangs boiled over.

Police said inquiries were continuing into the incident.

The stolen vehicle, a grey Toyota ute, registration number ST 7687, was undergoing a forensic examination, as was the family home in Matai St.

Police said they had a long list of people they wanted to talk to, which would take them well into next week.

They still wanted to hear from anyone who saw the incident, or anyone who had any information about the driver of the vehicle.

The tension between the gangs apparently began after a fight at a tangi a few days ago.

Mongrel Mob members sought retribution and Jordan Herewini died, locals believe, because he was wearing a yellow T-shirt, the colour worn by the Tribesmen gang.

Former Murupara mayor Bill Whiteman said his big fear was reprisals.

"The young fella who was killed had no affiliations with gangs. He was not involved in them," he said.

Jordan was the innocent victim of gang violence, he said, and it sent a chill through his heart.

One step forward would be to get the gangs on the marae and talk to them "on their own turf", he said.

"I think it has got a big effect when they go on to the marae and the elders talk to them.

"Somebody will have to get off their butt and do something."

However, no one could be reached when they were full of methamphetamine, he said.

Mr Whiteman arrived in Murupara on a two-year posting 50 years ago and never left.

He said Murupara was not a bad town and most residents were good, honest, down-to-earth people.

- NZPA