Gang fight breaks out in Whakatane

  • 14/01/2017
Black Power and Mongrel Mob
Patches of the Black Power and Mongrel Mob gangs (File)

Whakatane's deputy mayor says gang violence is unusual for the area, after a fight between Mongrel Mob and Black Power members broke out in the Bay of Plenty town. 

Mongrel Mob members were outside an Awatapu funeral venue for a tangi when Black Power showed up on Friday night.

Police say they received multiple reports of fighting with weapons and disorder just before 9pm.

One Black Power member was struck by a vehicle. Police say he is in a stable condition.

"Every now and then you have an event like what happened yesterday and that's disappointing, but certainly it doesn't characterise Whakatane at all. We have what I'd consider a very peaceful town," Ms Turner says.

Ms Turner thinks plenty of other towns deal with the same issues. She says she suspects those involved were emotionally charged as they were attending tangi proceedings.

Newshub.