Gang members to appear in court after brawl

A group of Wairoa gang members arrested after two men were shot in a violent brawl will appear in Gisborne District Court tomorrow.

A 39-year-old man was shot in the face and a 42-year-old man was shot in the head, arm and leg during the fracas last Tuesday.

Both were recovering in Hawke's Bay Regional Hospital.

Police arrested 23 Mongrel Mob members and charged them with unlawful assembly.

They had been due to appear in court on Friday, but voluntarily remained in custody to appear on Monday.

Gisborne area commander Inspector Sam Aberahama said police would oppose bail.

He said the brawl appeared to be part of an internal gang dispute and did not involve rival gangs.

Ballistics experts were examining firearms seized by police to establish if they were used in shooting.

- NZPA