12-year-old in gang robbery

Police had an overwhelmingly helpful response from the public. Photo / NZ Herald

Wairoa residents are "disgusted" at the robbery of a visitor who had her cigarettes and money aggressively stolen by a large group of youths - some as young as 12 - dressed in gang colours.

Yesterday, the 10th youth allegedly involved, a 16-year-old, was apprehended by police after the late Wednesday afternoon robbery of a 21-year-old woman visiting the northern Hawke's Bay town.

The woman was in the town to contemplate moving there with her partner, but the couple are now in doubt. She was approached by the all-male group dressed in red, near the vicinity of Paul St and Marine Parade about 5pm, when they demanded her cigarettes and money, grabbing them when she refused.

Police located the youths a short time later after the woman called 111. Six youths will appear in Wairoa Youth Court on aggravated-robbery charges and four others had been referred to Youth Aid.

Police had an overwhelmingly helpful response from the public who were fed up with the battering the town had received.

Wairoa I-Site manager Sally Simpson said there had been "absolute disgust" from the community at the robbery of the visitor.

"I hadn't heard of one forever so it was really surprising. It definitely is not [a common occurrence] ... It's a safe town," she said.

"We're all thoroughly fed up with the negative messages that go out about Wairoa instead of positive message of how life is every day for us."

Wairoa Police Senior Sergeant Tony Bates said though it was not common for young children to engage in such behaviour, it did happen. "There are children who wear various colours that maybe are younger than that, but this is not a common occurrence" he said.

Steps were being taken by people in the town to combat a range of social issues.

"There is a foundation group looking at community safety," he said. "It is a cohesive group encompassing a lot more people to look at all issues that relate to community safety be it health, crime or whatever."

- additional reporting, NZ Herald