Police are planning to meet with local gang leaders and mayors after an escalation of violence in Hawke's Bay.
Police remove cordons from a park on the corner of Warren St and Lyndon St, central Hastings after a stabbing. Photo: RNZ / Tom Kitchin
Over the last few weeks there have been two shootings in Napier and stabbings in Hastings.
Some of it has been gang related.
The latest follows a road rage incident on Sunday night in central Hastings, where a man was stabbed and left critically injured.
The incident happened on Warren St and the man was found around the corner on Heretaunga St, the city's main street.
Police had cordoned off a park on the corner of Warren St and Lyndon Rd in central Hastings on Monday morning and were examining the scene.
Acting Hawke's Bay area commander inspector Damin Ormsby said police were waiting to speak to the victim, who had surgery today, to get more details.
"Unfortunately the victim is still in hospital, so we've only got limited information at this time. It doesn't appear the victims are known to each other."
Damin Ormsby. Photo: RNZ / Anusha Bradley
Police said the offenders may have been wearing gang colours, but the victim was not gang-affiliated.
Inspector Ormsby said police had no suspects, but were looking at CCTV footage.
This comes after a suspected stabbing in Flaxmere, where one person was hospitalised with minor injuries at the weekend.
There were two shootings in Napier last week, including a drive-by shooting.
Police believed both shooting incidents were related.
Two weeks ago, a person presented a gun in a gang fight in Taradale, near where a gang shooting incident happened in January that left people injured.
Ormsby said a meeting would likely happen this week to discuss the violence.
"We are planning to meet at this point of time with different gang leaders and also with the likes of local mayors and for which we appreciate them coming to the party and talking to us so we can discuss how we can continue to keep the city safe."
