BROADCASTS.com

Published: June 14, 2023, 7:30 p.m.

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The Bay of Plenty towns of \\u014cp\\u014dtiki and Whakat\\u0101ne were effectively shut down yesterday as a Mongrel Mob funeral procession caused massive disruption to the community - including a closed highway that created traffic chaos and fresh gunshots under investigation by police.

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Bay of Plenty District Police Commander Tim Anderson told Newstalk ZB\\u2019s Mike Hosking Breakfast this morning they were not \\u201cout-manned\\u201d yesterday as a large procession of gang members flooded State Highway 2 prompting it\\u2019s hours-long closure.

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The town had a large influx of gang members come in for the tangi yesterday but were now leaving, he said.

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Back in the day police did not allow roads to be closed, Anderson said.

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\\u201cBut now police work with gangs so everything is safe but we do not tolerate any unlawful behaviour.\\u201d

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Anderson said he did not see much of the unlawful behaviour yesterday.

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Detective Inspector Tim Anderson says team work is what makes the difference in resolving cases. Photo / Christine Cornege

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\\u201cWe saw a couple of burnouts, we have taken photographs and will be looking at them.\\u201d

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Speaking about gunshots, he said these events had started last Friday.

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\\u201cOur team have zero tolerance for act of violence and intimidation.\\u201d

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Overnight a number of gang members were arrested, Anderson said.

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\\u201cOur staff have been working extremely hard 24x7 arresting gang members, seizing weapons, and drugs since Friday night in \\u014cp\\u014dtiki and Whakat\\u0101ne.\\u201d

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Speaking to National\\u2019s police spokesman Mark Mitchell\\u2019s comments from his days as a dog handler when gang members would hide at the sight of them, Anderson said they had dog handlers doing the same thing.

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\\u201cI guess the thing that has changed is there are more tools and tactics available for police now to handle such situations and keep staff safer.\\u201d

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PM: \\u2018Gang convoys suck\\u2019

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Prime Minister Chris Hipkins last night condemned the activity, which was honouring the slain Mongrel Mob Barbarians president, saying \\u201cgangs contribute nothing to society\\u201d.

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Police vowed to impound vehicles, issue fines and charge drivers, while officers were also investigating multiple reports of shots being fired at cars in Whakat\\u0101ne yesterday afternoon.

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Hundreds of motorbikes, cars, utes and vans descended on Whakat\\u0101ne for Barbarians president Steven Taiatini\\u2019s tangi at Hillcrest Crematorium.

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Many barked and others yelled \\u201cseig heil\\u201d as they shot past.

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Taiatini was killed in what police called a \\u201cdisorder-related incident\\u201d on St John St, \\u014cp\\u014dtiki, on Friday. Police have launched a homicide investigation.

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The hearse and motorcycle procession for the tangi. Photo / Andrew Warner

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Hipkins told Newstalk ZB yesterday it was up to the police to make the \\u201coperational decisions\\u201d about how to handle to influx of mobsters to the area.

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\\u201cWell, we have changed the law recently to give police more powers around gang convoys because we have been concerned about convoys and the intimidating nature of them,\\u201d Hipkins said.

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\\u201cGang convoys suck for everybody who is disrupted by them ... One of the reasons that we\\u2019ve changed the law to give police more powers to crack down on gangs is because I don\\u2019t have any time for that kind of behaviour.\\u201d

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Superintendent Tim Anderson, the Bay of Plenty District Commander, said police were yet to find those responsible for the reported gunshots and there were no reports of injuries. However, one vehicle believed to be involved has been found by police.

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Anderson confirmed the high police presence will continue through several days as they try to hold those behaving unlawfully accountable.

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\\u201cWe have already identified a number of drivers and registered owners and they can expect to receive infringement notices, and in some cases, be charged for their actions for driving behaviour and face the court,\\u201d Anderson said.

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\\u201cPolice have also today obtained a search warrant under the Criminal Activity Intervention Legislation Act 2023, which allows police to search vehicles of suspected gang members and seize their weapons during times of conflict.\\u201d

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The hearse carrying Taiatini leads a procession of mob members on their bikes

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He also confirmed two people have already been arrested and charged with possession of a firearm and cannabis.

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State Highway 2, which was closed earlier today, between \\u014cp\\u014dtiki and Whakat\\u0101ne, was closed yesterday due to the convoy but has since reopened.

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One resident out for a bike ride in \\u014chope said the procession \\u201csounded like a bomber going overhead\\u201d.

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Many of the gang members were hanging outside their windows, doors and sitting on roofs and he couldn\\u2019t believe the \\u201cstate of lawlessness\\u201d.

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Taiatini\\u2019s death has sparked tension in \\u014cp\\u014dtiki with fears of retribution that caused schools to close and stopped public transport.

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An extra 50 police officers were deployed to \\u014cp\\u014dtiki to provide \\u201ccommunity reassurance\\u201d

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Mongrel Mob members talk to police. Photo / Andrew Warner

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Taiatini\\u2019s funeral convoy was led by a red ute and red American classic muscle cars.

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The thunderclap of hundreds of motorcycles and classic American muscle cars pierced the normally sleepy seaside town of Whakat\\u0101ne about 11.20am.

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The convoy of vehicles lasted more than 15 minutes as 50 to 100 patched motorcyclists roared ahead of several hundred vehicles packed with mobsters.

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A massive queue of local residents trying to travel in the region was lining P\\u014dhutawaka Dr as far as the eye can see behind the \\u014chope Rd cordon.

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Some were hanging out of windows and doors. One was on the roof of a vehicle - throwing up gang signs and salutes.

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One motorcyclist performed a skid up the hill on \\u014chope Rd as the smell of burnt rubber lingered in the air. Many opted to stand on the tray of utes as they sped towards the crematorium.

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After the procession, police blocked P\\u014dhutukawa Drive at \\u014chope Beach from motorists heading towards Whakat\\u0101ne with the queue stretching beyond the eye could see. The cordon lasted more than an hour.

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Some motorists opted to turn around and go the other way while most sat and waited.

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\\u201cIf you let them (Mongrel mob) get away with it, this is what they\\u2019ll do,\\u201d a disgruntled bystander said.

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National police spokesman Mark Mitchell said the increased gang activity was \\u201cabsolutely outrageous". Photo / File

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National\\u2019s police spokesman Mark Mitchell told Newstalk ZB gang members had become bold and were terrorising locals.

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The former police officer said when he was stationed in Gisborne they often called to \\u014cp\\u014dtiki, when they pulled up with vans and dogs, gang members would go away at the sight of them.

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The increased gang activity was \\u201cabsolutely outrageous,\\u201d he said.

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Earlier in the week, Detective Inspector Lew Warner said police investigating Taiatini\\u2019s death were seeking information on a burnt-out vehicle.

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The vehicle was found on Sunday morning on Waiotahe Valley Rd and police believe it was set alight overnight on Saturday.

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Investigators were conducting extensive inquiries into Taiatini\\u2019s death, including whether there was any connection with the vehicle.

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\\u201cWe are committed to establishing what has occurred and locating those responsible for his death.\\u201d

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On Monday, Puwhakamua rehabilitation programme founder Billy Macfarlane Snr said Taiatini needed to be acknowledged for the \\u201cgood stuff he\\u2019s done.

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\\u201cHe\\u2019s worked seriously hard to help make changes in the methamphetamine harm space. He and his partner, Pauline, have done a lot of work even in Rotorua.\\u201d

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Macfarlane said Taiatini\\u2019s death was a \\u201ctragedy\\u201d and that he was \\u201cgoing to be missed.\\u201d

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\\u201cHe wasn\\u2019t a bad guy ... He was quite a pleasant fellow to talk to and he wanted to do good.\\u201d

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* Anyone with information that may assist the police in their homicide investigation is asked to contact police on 105 or online using the update report.

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Please reference file number: 230610/2652.

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- Luke Kirkness\\xa0and\\xa0Rachel Maher, NZ Herald

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