Cousins jailed over gang shooting

The shooting was captured on the petrol station's CCTV camera. Photo / supplied

Two Black Power members who shot a rival gang member on the forecourt of a Wairoa petrol station have been sent to jail for more than 12 years.

James Huata, 22, and his cousin Thomas Huata, 24, admitted shooting the Mongrel Mob member two years ago as well as perverting the course of justice by attempting to intimidate a witness.

The two were sentenced today by Justice David Collins in the High Court at Napier where they each received sentences of 12 years and 3 months.

Justice Collins said the men set out to avenge the shooting of a Black Power member in Wairoa a month earlier.

He said it was a "classic case of gang retaliation'' in which they had set out with the purpose of finding any Mongrel Mob member to shoot.

Images captured on a CCTV camera on the forecourt showed James Huata shooting the victim twice at close range with a shotgun.

Huata then ran to a car parked around the corner and his cousin drove away.

The fact the victim survived was "only a matter of chance'' and the incident was particularly serious because of the risk to other members of the public, Justice Collins said.

- Additional reporting by Newstalk ZB