Gang tensions flare in Northland

Black Power graffiti on a bridge in Wairoa. Photo / APN

Fears of gang violence in Northland are high after two recent clashes between rival gangs.

A confrontation between members of Black Power and the Tribesmen on New Year's Eve put residents of Whangarei suburb Otangarei on high alert, with some families taking their children elsewhere fearing they could be caught in the cross fire.

Otangarei community leader and former Black Power member Martin Kaipo, who has been working with the gangs, said ``associates'' of one of the factions, who were not Power members, were carrying out numerous night time assaults on rivals.

Mr Kaipo said he was not sure what had prompted the attack, but it was likely carried out by individuals and not ordered by gang leadership.

"The last thing that they want is the unnecessary attention or unnecessary reactions."

The Tribesmen had only recently moved into Otangarei, while Black Power had been there since the gang's inception, Mr Kaipo said.

Mr Kaipo said he had also heard of a "confrontation" between members of the Tribesmen, Black Power and the Mongrel Mob in Kaikohe this week, but was not sure of whether this was a result of the Otangarei incident.

Leaders of the Mongrel Mob and the Tribesman were currently holding discussions, he said.

Whangarei Police area commander Inspector Paul Dimery said three gang members from Otangarei had been arrested for fleeing from police in a stolen car since the New Year's Eve incident.

Things had quietened down in the neighbourhood since the arrests, he said, but residents were still anxious.

Mr Dimery would not say which faction those arrested belonged to.

"I don't give any of the gangs any publicity whatsoever, I don't value them enough to even mention them by name."

Both groups had assured police that they would not launch reprisal attacks, Mr Dimery said.

"In Otangarei there's always only been one group involved but there now seems to be some flexing of the muscles."

Mr Dimery encouraged the community to take a stand against the gangs.

"There are some awesome people in Otangarei. There's just a very small percentage that affects the majority of the community and for some reason the community allows that to occur.

"Police will do what they can but at the end of the day it's the community that's got to stand up and say we don't want these criminals in our environment."

- NZPA