Whakatane has returned to normal after gang tensions led to shots being fired during a funeral procession, the town's mayor says.
Police said a motorcade of more than 100 cars carrying Mongrel Mob members left Kawerau about 1pm and travelled through Taneatua on its way to Whakatane.
The shots were fired about 2.15pm near the corner of Arawa Rd and Valley Rd, they said.
About 15 regular officers, as well as Armed Offenders Squad staff from Tauranga and Rotorua, monitored the procession. The entrance to the Hillcrest Crematorium was shut after the motorcade reached it to prevent anyone else from entering, the police said.
Whakatane mayor Tony Bonne said tensions built up last Friday after a young Black Power member provoked the Mongrel Mob.
He said nobody was hurt during the confrontation today and the procession had left via Ohope.
Police said earlier that several arrests were made, but said later no charges had yet been laid.
'Absolutely crazy'
Local man Jey Ratema said Black Power members lined the road as the Mongrel Mob entered town. He heard people screaming and running and others told him shots had been fired, he said.
"There was just a crazy amount of Black Powers on the side of the road, a crazy amount of Mongrel Mob rallying throughout our town."
The gang members in the cars threw bottles in retaliation to shouting and fist-pulling by the rival gang members on the side of the road, he said.
"Today, there's been so much violence, there's been broken bottles, thrown bottles from cars, and just the worst language ever possible. It's been absolutely crazy."
Warning: This video contains language that may offend.
Another resident, who did not want to be named, said he was inside his business on Te Tahi St when he heard the shots.
"One was a high-powered rifle and one was a shotgun, I think, so we went outside and that's when we saw the gun fight in the street.
"These guys pulled up in a grey car and a bunch of them were hunting around in the boot," the man said.
The men pulled three guns out of the boot and walked down the street, he said.
"One member who had a gun started firing up the street, not into the air but straight up the street towards a road block ... The other mob at the other end had a car parked in the middle of the road."
The resident said he heard two or three shots all up.
"The Armed Offenders Squad arrived quickly and things quietened down - the squad chased a few of them down the street towards the rugby club."
Earlier fight
Today's incident follows a fight between the two gangs in the town on Friday.
Police were called to a different funeral director's premises, on Cleary Ave, after reports of disorder and fighting between gang members.
The fighting happened at a motorcade for a Mongrel Mob member who died that day - the member died at home, and the gang followed the hearse from the house to the funeral home.
The police said one Black Power member was hit by a vehicle leaving the funeral home.
Police said the shots were fired near the corner of Arawa Rd and Valley Rd in Whakatane (marked with a star) and the procession had since reached the Hillcrest Crematorium. Photo: Google Maps
