It was a tense day in Whakatane as the Mongrel Mob and Black Power clashed over a funeral procession.
Armed police scrambled to the scene in the Bay of Plenty after gunshots were fired as gang members attempted to stop their rivals from entering the town.
Officers say several arrests were made as they tried to contain the violence.
The trouble is believed to have started after an altercation between the two gangs outside a funeral home on Friday, when the coffin of Mongrel Mob member Tahu Kingi fell onto the road.
This set the scene for today's violent confrontation.
The 100-strong Mongrel Mob funeral procession left Kawarau at around 1pm. They were headed towards the Whakatane crematorium and right into Black Power territory.
Members of the local gang were determined not to allow their rivals past - leading to inevitable conflict.
Gunshots were heard at around 2:15pm, worsening the situation.
It's not clear who fired the shots - but 10 armed officers and 20 more police were sent in and quickly sealed off streets leading to the Crematorium.
Local resident Johnny 'Jey' Ratema said a stand-off occurred after the motorcade passed a group of Black Power members at the base of a nearby hill.
"There was a huge rally and shooting, which sparked retaliation."
He said at times he was scared for his safely, especially after standing close to "a quite aggressive Black Power lady."
"She was yelling and made the Mongrel Mob members stop their vehicles and some were getting out. I was right next to her and I was like, I better get out of here!"
"It was hectic, people were yelling and throwing bottles of Lion Red out of their cars."
Local shops closed their doors, and the atmosphere was edgy. One local described it as madness.
By 6pm on Tuesday evening however the cordon was gone.
Police said they had made several arrests, and the funeral procession had moved on from Hillcrest Crematorium without incident.
However it's understood the call has gone out for more gang members to travel to Whakatane, so this may not yet be over.
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