Seven arrested over BOP teen's death

Seven people have been arrested following a teenager's death in the Bay of Plenty town of Murupara early on Saturday morning.

Kaine Lewis, 17, died from head injuries, apparently after two feuding gangs fought in the town.

The seven arrested had been charged with participation in an organised criminal group , and six had appeared in the Rotorua District Court over the past two days, police said.

Police were still investigating the seven's involvement in Mr Lewis' death, which was a homicide.

Local residents said the dead teenager was run over and beaten in a gang attack early on Saturday morning.

He was dead when he arrived at Rotorua Hospital.

Murupara resident Lee Tapsell, 18, said Mr Lewis was not involved in a gang.

Police were still seeking further information from witnesses and other members of the public.

Murupara has been in the headlines for gang killings, violence and drugs offending, and residents said they had had enough.

The Tribesmen and the Mongrel Mob had been rivals for years and Mr Lewis was the second teenager to die from gang violence in less than a year.

In January, Jordan Herewini was killed when allegedly run down by a gang member, now awaiting trial for murder.

Police would not talk about details of the fight which left Mr Lewis dead but said gangs were part of the investigation.

- NZPA