Members of the Mongrel Mob Barbarians gathered at Hillcrest Cemetery between Ōhope and Whakatāne to farewell their leader Steven Rota Taiatini on 14 June, 2023. Photo: Supplied / Aukaha News
A family friend of a slain gang boss believes there will be a lot of work behind the scenes to keep tensions at bay while a homicide investigation is undertaken in Ōpōtiki.
The body of Mongrel Mob Barbarians president Steven Taiatini, who died on Friday night after an altercation, was taken to Hillcrest Crematorium in Whakatāne on Wednesday.
Hundreds of gang members - and 100 extra police - have travelled to the region.
Kylie Poihipi, a family friend, told Aukaha News meetings with rival gangs will need to be had.
"The tension has always been in Ōpōtiki. This is not something new to us," she said.
"There's going to have to be some big discussions held between hapū leaders here. We don't have to look too far to know how this tragedy started and how it's going to end.
"It's about making sure... that we're constantly talking about what is the huarahi (way) forward and not leaving it dormant, and making sure that our tamariki and mokopuna are at the forefront of our decision-making process."
Whakatōhea Māori Trust Board chief executive Dickie Farrar said it was ready to support any talks, regardless of gang affiliation.
"Colour is not the priority for us. They whakapapa to Whakatōhea as the tribe and for us, that's more important than showing colours, even though we respect their colours and their choices.
"Our hope is when they're ready, not before, to be able to sit down as as rangatira ki te rangatira and find a way to find some peace and maintain some calm.
"This can't be resolved in three or four, even a week's time, so we need some space. They need space and we're here to support that space to be provided."
Eight schools were closed on Tuesday due to their proximity to the Taiatini family home. Ōpōtiki College, Waiotahe Valley School and Ōpōtiki Primary School will stay closed until Monday, 19 June, due to safety concerns.
Poihipi rejected the notion Ōpōtiki had been put into a state of turmoil.
"Absolutely not. It's totally opposite to that. For our whānau it's about coming together. It's about celebrating all his mahi. It's about manaakitanga (hospitality) to all our manuhiri (visitors) that come from as far as the South Island. They still had core values to uphold and they've done it amazingly.
"The whānau opted to have their tangihanga here so that their members could do what they wanted to do, but it was guided by tikanga because his wife is an advocate for Te Ao Māori and her oranga as well."
Police were actively patrolling on Wednesday afternoon and collected footage of dangerous driving from some of those in the funeral procession.
Police block the way to Hillcrest cemetery between Ōhope and Whakatāne. Photo: RNZ / Finn Blackwell
Bay of Plenty district commander Superintendent Tim Anderson said a number of drivers and registered owners had already been identified.
"They can expect to receive infringement notices, and in some cases, be charged for their actions for driving behaviour and face the court."
Police were also investigating reports of a number of shots being fired towards a vehicle in Whakatāne on Wednesday afternoon, near an area known as The Hub. There were no reports of injuries.
Anderson told Morning Report the shots fired on Wednesday were possibly gang-related but that could not be confirmed.
He said police found evidence in a car that led them to believe the incident was related to drug dealing.
Police had obtained a search warrant under the Criminal Activity Intervention Legislation Act 2023, which allowed police to search vehicles of suspected gang members and seize weapons during times of conflict.
Anderson said officers used the legislation to search eight vehicles on Wednesday night and found firearms and drugs. "All of those persons are facing prosecution."
There was still a concern about retaliation, given conflict between the gangs in Ōpōtiki over number of years, however the gangs had been talking of holding meetings to try to resolve their differences.
"That's obviously up to them but we're part of those conversations."
The increased police presence would remain for "some time", he said.
