Both men were uninvited guests who arrived at the party shortly before the incident began on Saturday night, police said.
Police confirmed the identities of the two men killed during the 21st birthday celebration as Kane Wiremu Te Paa, 30, of Wainuiomata, and Chrysler Stevens-Mark, 21, of Gisborne.
The party in Lytton St was a whānau birthday celebration for Stevens-Mark, said de Lange.
“Police will continue to have a highly visible presence in Gisborne as reassurance patrols are carried out, and work continues to support Kane and Chrysler’s families as they plan their loved one’s final journeys,” he added.
De Lange earlier said the partygoers, of whom there were about 100, were having a great night with no problems before the two uninvited guests turned up.
Police investigating the scene of a mass brawl that left two dead and up to 100 injured in the Gisborne suburb of Elgin. Photo / Paul Rickard
A final post-mortem had concluded but police would not elaborate of the cause of death for both men.
De Lange said both men died from injuries sustained during the altercation.
“A karakia has taken place at the scene where the incident occurred, and it is expected to be released back to whānau this evening,” de Lange said.
“Police will offer support to the whānau as they plan the tangi, however this is a deeply personal process and for them alone to plan.”
A witness to the 100-person Gisborne brawl says they heard partygoers scream “they killed my cousin” during the altercation.
One of those killed in the 21st birthday celebration that got out of hand was earlier named as Black Power member Te Paa.
A family member of Te Paa said he had recently become a father and was a “loving dad”.
“His life was taken too short. Why start these fights when at the end of the day you’re all meant to be family?”
Black Power member Kane Wiremu Te Paa was killed in an altercation in Elgin during a 21st birthday celebration.
The family member said Te Paa was a Black Power member and didn’t wish to comment further.
Police have said that while the brawl involved gang members it was not a conflict between rival gangs. Officers have been brought in from outside of Gisborne amid concerns of further disorder.
In a Facebook post shared online, a family member announced Te Paa’s passing, saying: “on behalf of the Gray an Taare whānau we would like to inform our whānau of the tragic passing of our son, brother, uncle, nephew, grandson [and] loving father Kane Taare Gray”.
In a Facebook post which has since been deleted, a family member of Stevens-Mark said: “It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of our Boy, our Little Cuzzy, our Little brother... who was tragically taken from us in what was supposed to be his special night!”
Chrysler Stevens-Mark was celebrating his 21st birthday party when he was killed in the mass brawl.
“My aunty, my uncs and our little cousins we love yous so much, we will be here every step!
“To our Stevens [whānau] we are thinking of you all at this dark time so many things to say but no words at the same time.”
“I heard things like ‘They killed my cousin!’,” she said.
She believed she saw the young man who was celebrating his birthday collapse to the ground in the chaos.
“We actually saw the one that passed, the 21st birthday boy, we saw him fall to the ground,” she said.
“It was sad, screaming, yelling, crying. It is sad seeing things like that, I just feel for the family. Especially the birthday boy. That ruined his night.”
Police investigating the scene of a mass brawl that left two dead. Photo / Paul Rickard
She said a car had been doing burnouts on the street near the party a few hours before it began and believed one of the occupants was one of the people who later arrived uninvited, sparking the brawl.
“I heard that the car was just rarking up the party, I don’t know.”
A scene examination at the address. Photo / Paul Rickard
She said she never believed something like this would happen so close to where she and her whānau live.
“They were all having a good night. They were just having a good celebration with their family and friends until these uninvited guests ruined it.”
Gisborne councillor Colin Alder told Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking Breakfast he has it on reasonably good authority gangs are involved, but “they are not at war, as such”.
“It was an unfortunate event at a party where alcohol and possible drugs were involved... who takes a knife to a party?”
Other information can be provided via 105, either by phone or online at 105.police.govt.nz, clicking “Update Report” referencing file number 240324/0768.
Information can also be provided anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Benjamin Plummer is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. He has worked for the Herald since 2022.
