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The death of a two-year-old girl in a driveby shooting in Wanganui last night "confirms the worst fears of police and community about the ongoing gang conflict in the area," the city's top cop says.
"An innocent child is now the victim of tit-for-tat retaliation between gangs," Inspector Duncan McLeod, area commander of Wanganui police said.
The incident happened about 10pm at a house in the suburb of Gonville in Wanganui.
A group of people were at the home when several vehicles drove past and fired shots into the front of the house, Mr McLeod said.
"Unfortunately the girl was asleep in the front of the house and was struck by one of the bullets."
Mr McLeod said the toddler died at the scene.
Police launched a homicide inquiry and were appealing for witnesses who had information about the incident, or were in the area and saw anything suspicious between 8pm and 11pm, to contact them.
Police were today conducting door-to-door interviews.
Additional staff were being brought in to boost the inquiry team to about 30 officers.
Wanganui mayor Michael Laws said the killing "must serve as a wake-up call to all New Zealand on the tolerance of criminal gangs in our midst."
Last month, Mr Laws warned hat such a consequence was likely before a referendum on the banning of gang patches and gang regalia from the city.
A majority of Wanganui citizens voted for the ban.
"For the past four years, there has been escalating tensions between gangs in Wanganui. There have been shootings, revenge shootings and beatings and even the police have been shot at by gang members.
"Now a two-year-old girl lies dead. Shot by cowards who have so little respect for human life and humanity that the shooting of children is considered an acceptable risk."
Mr Laws said most provincial cities and towns were plagued by criminal gangs.
"I implore parliament, policy-makers and the police to start taking a no-tolerance attitude towards gangs. They are doing decent citizens no favours by simply sitting back and 'managing' the problem."
Police Association president Greg O'Connor repeated his association's call for a commission of inquiry into gangs.
"What has happened in Wanganui is in microcosm happening in every town in New Zealand.
He said it required a co-ordinated inter-agency approach to disempower gangs.
"Before we can do that we need an inquiry into just how far gangs have penetrated NZ society."
- NZPA
