Tauranga has seen a spate of gang violence in February, leaving the community shaken and on edge.
Tauranga Mayor Tenby Powell told The Project the gang and methamphetamine problems the town is facing is also a nationwide issue.
"We have a problem with gangs right now, so too does Napier, so too does Wanganui. This is not a Tauranga-specific issue.
"I hate to say this, but we will see it in other parts of New Zealand at some stage."
He says part of New Zealand's meth problem is there's a very large coastline to police and a solution needs to be made soon.
"We've got to find a way of cutting the head off the meth monster."
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