Police will have a visible presence around the region today during Enoka’s funeral
Police are being pulled in from outside the Wellington region to help monitor the funeral of a prominent gang member today.
Albert Enoka, 39, was fatally shot on Seddon St in Naenae last week, prompting a manhunt for the alleged shooter, 28-year-old Wipuhara Kapene who remains on the run.
“Police will be maintaining a visible presence in the Hutt Valley and Porirua areas today,” police said this morning.
“The funeral for the victim of the homicide in Naenae last week is being farewelled at a funeral in Wainuiomata this morning, followed by a procession through Hutt Valley to Porirua, where he will be laid to rest at Whenua Tapu cemetery.”
Police say Wipuhara Kapene, 28, is wanted for the murder of Albert Enoka in Naenae, Lower Hutt. Photo / Police
Officers from across the region will be joined by specialist teams and officers from outside the Wellington area to help monitor the tangi.
Acting Hutt Valley Area Commander Inspector Shaun Lingard police would be monitoring the funeral and procession to ensure family and mourners could grieve safely and within the law.
“We’ve got approximately 140 staff available for this operation.
“I would say that’s a reasonably large number of police, but as they say it’s better to be prepared.”
This included police from outside the Wellington region alongside specialist teams. There would be checkpoints in place to monitor the procession, and officers patrolling.
Lingard said police’s thoughts were with Enoka’s family.
“Our aim is to provide the space for them and other attendees to grieve, while ensuring the law is upheld,” he said.
“We have maintained contact with the community, and gang leaders and members, prior to the funeral and have set clear expectations around behaviour.”
Police will have checkpoints in place to monitor the procession, and officers will be patrolling relevant areas.
“Unlawful behaviour will not be tolerated,” he said.
Albert Enoka, also known as Alby, died after being shot in Lower Hutt.
Anyone with immediate concerns for safety should call 111. If anyone is reporting matters after the fact, they should contact 105 either online or over the phone.
There is likely to be some traffic disruption in the late morning in Lower Hutt, particularly around Wainuiomata, Lower Hutt and the highway network between the Hutt Valley and Porirua.
Police yesterday released the name and photo of Kapene, saying he was wanted for the murder of Enoka.
It is understood Kapene is a Black Power gang member. Enoka had previously been the president of the Christchurch chapter of the Rebels Motorcycle gang, but it is understood he had joined the Tribesmen more recently.
“Police consider Kapene to be armed and dangerous, and he should not be approached. If you see him, call 111 immediately,” Detective Inspector Haley Ryan said yesterday.
Information after the fact can be reported to police online now or via 105, using the reference number 241210/3356, or reference Operation Ratio. Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
“It is likely Kapene is receiving help, and police will look to prosecute anyone harbouring or assisting him,” Ryan said.
“Please contact police immediately if you have any information that may help.”
Detective Inspector John Van Den Heuvel speaks to media about the homicide investigation. Photo / Melissa Nightingale
Police were nearby when Enoka was shot last week after a verbal altercation on Seddon St, but despite arriving on the scene within five minutes, they did not see the shooter or his associates and could not save the former Rebels gang president.
District manager of criminal investigations, Detective Inspector John Van Den Heuvel, earlier told media the shooter was described as being about 30with a large build and full facial tattoos covering his whole face, including forehead, cheeks and chin.
Police were quick to recover the getaway car yesterday - a black 2008 Mercedes saloon, registration KRP453 - but had not found the gun used in the attack.
The car was found at a property on Judd Crescent, and police wanted to hear from anyone who saw it, Van Den Heuvel said.
While police were still working on what happened, “this does appear though to be an incident between known parties who are gang associates or gang members”.
“So you’re asking if there’s likely to be any retaliation? We don’t see any information to lead us to believe that.”
When asked whether police knew if the victim and attacker belonged to different gangs or the same gang, Van Den Heuvel said “we know the people involved have links to gangs and we’re still trying to unravel exactly what that looks like”.
He said police don’t yet know what the motive was for the shooting.
Police remained at the scene of a shooting in Lower Hutt this morning. Photo / Melissa Nightingale
She said everybody on the street saw Enoka’s body, and she was concerned for her kids as they were getting home from school.
“It’s a sad turn of events,” she said.
Another woman, who said she had lived on Seddon St “forever”, was out the back of her property when she heard sirens and assumed the incident was further away.
When she eventually came out front she was told by police to go back inside.
The woman said what happened was “incredible” and she was “shocked”.
“It’s sad, really, I’m still shocked about it,” she said.
Another resident said the broad daylight attack was “just something to process, I guess”.
-additional reporting RNZ
Melissa Nightingale is a Wellington-based reporter who covers crime, justice, and news in the capital. She joined the Herald in 2016 and has worked as a journalist for 10 years.
