Police breathtesting drivers in the Napier suburb of Maraenui ahead of a tangi for Mongrel Mob chapter president "Heil Dogg". Photo: Alexa Cook / RNZ
Dozens of police are breath testing people driving into the Napier suburb of Maraenui on Thursday, as the area prepares for a large gang tangi on Friday and Saturday.
The tangi is for Napier's Mongrel Mob Barbarian chapter president, "Heil Dogg", also known as Angus Benson and Angus Ratima.
Police had set up checkpoints in two different locations near the gang's Napier headquarters, and said they were preparing for large numbers of gang members from across the region to visit the area and pay their respects.
In a statement, Inspector Lincoln Sycamore said police had been engaging with locals, gang leaders and the whānau of the deceased in the lead-up to the funeral.
The role of the police was to allow law-abiding mourners to grieve respectfully, while maintaining public trust and confidence, he said.
The provisional results from road checkpoints conducted on Wednesday showed police had conducted 572 passive breath tests along with 10 breath screening tests - four of them resulted in excess breath alcohol.
Police said about 60 infringement notices were issued, two vehicles were impounded, there was an arrest for disorder and a driving suspension notice served, with another suspended driver identified.
At the Maraenui gang pad, a large marquee and food truck had been set up on the front lawn, and catering trucks were seen dropping off supplies.
In a social media post, attendees are being warned of road closures near the family's home and are urged to behave.
"Everyone is responsible for their own behavior, carloads, risk management and situations throughout this week...‼️PLAY UPS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED‼️..Said with LOVE," the post reads.
Heil's body was at his mother's home in Maraenui, and will be taken to the nearby gang headquarters on Friday where he will lie for his last night and for poroporoaki (farewell).
A person on social media reflected on previous tangi, and said: "Our Heil wouldve been right in there to like he was with all our whanau when they passed on, tha Man with the biggest heart smiles & Aroha."
Police said they would maintain high visibility until after the funeral commemorations which were expected to start about midday had ended.
There was likely to be increased traffic on Saturday when the funeral was taking place in Marewa.
People could expect large numbers of vehicles travelling from Napier Tech clubrooms to the Wharerangi Lawn Cemetery at that time and should be patient and plan accordingly, police said.
"Police will be carefully monitoring proceedings, to ensure mourners are allowed space to grieve, and law and order is maintained," Sycamore said.
The service is being held on Saturday in Marewa.
