KEY POINTS:
The three-year-old cousin of a toddler killed in a gang-related drive-by shooting in Wanganui was one of several hundred local people who marched through the city today to celebrate it as a great place to live.
Two-year-old Jhia Harmony Te Tua was shot dead as she slept in a house in Puriri St in suburban Gonville on Saturday night, with the drive-by shooting linked to rivalry between Mongrel Mob and Black Power.
Jhia's father was a member of the Black Power Gang and four Mongrel Mob members have appeared in court on a range of charges relating to events leading up to the shooting.
The tragedy and its aftermath -- a fear of gang retribution -- has thrust Wanganui into the national spotlight and today its citizens gathered to celebrate their city.
During the march Mayor Michael Laws and MP Chester Borrows walked hand in hand with Jhia's cousin, Taylor Packer, through central Wanganui.
As a crowd of about 500 assembled at Majestic Square, some with "We Love Wanganui" flags, another relative of Jhia's placed a photo of the little girl on the stage.
Jhia's parents were seen to walk past, stop briefly and continue on.
Mr Laws said it was "appalling" that a toddler had been gunned down as part of an ongoing dispute between two gangs "who value neither decency nor human life".
The tragedy could have happened anywhere in New Zealand but the fact it occurred in Wanganui saddened him.
"This rally is about affirming what a great place Wanganui truly is," he said.
"But it is also to affirm to the rest of the country -- and to the national media -- that we are not frightened. We are not intimidated. We are not fearful. We are not unsafe.
"We are Wanganui. Warm, caring, compassionate."
As Wanganui Police Area Commander Inspector Duncan MacLeod addressed the rally the police Eagle helicopter did a flyover, circling above to cheers from the crowd.
Jhia's ashes were buried yesterday after a tangi over two days at Tukorehe Marae, near Levin.
Meanwhile, 46 police and scientists continue to work on the investigation into Jhia's death.
Two men appeared in court on Tuesday -- both charged with unlawful assembly and one with possession of an offensive weapon, namely a bottle, assault, unlawfully entering a building with the intent to commit a crime and taking part in a riot.
Two other men turned themselves in to police yesterday and appeared in court but all details were suppressed.
Three vehicles believed to have been involved have been located and are being forensically examined.
Police in the city continue to be on high alert, particularly with increased numbers of gang members in the city following Jhia's tangi.
Police said today they understood that after the house in Puriri Street was handed back to the family yesterday, it was blessed and the couch on which Jhia had been lying on when she was shot was burned.
Enquiry head Detective Senior Sergeant Chris Bensemann said many people had contacted the enquiry base with information which was being processed.
Where necessary police would get in touch with the people offering information, but he asked them to be patient as there was a big number of enquiries to be prioritised and completed.
Today police were examining an address in Ngahina Street, Marton, where the black and grey Nissan Safari was found yesterday.
Door-to-door enquiries in Puriri and Akatea Streets are continuing in an effort to speak to all residents.
- NZPA
