Police action around tangi
Motorbikes seized at gang gathering for man shot by police
Motorbikes have been seized and infringements issued in relation to a tangi for a gang member killed by police in the Waikato last week, police say.
Police shot a 31-year-old armed man from the Hauraki region on February 15 after a lengthy pursuit ended when the man entered a stranger’s home in Manawaru, near Te Aroha, and threatened a parent and child, police said in a statement.
The identity of the man has yet to be revealed.
A police spokeswoman told the Herald: “The motions are under way for an interim non-publication order so we are not in a position to release [his] name as yet.”
A spokeswoman for the Coroner said the interim non-publication order had been made and would remain in place until 5pm on Thursday. The Coroner would then rule on the order the following day.
Waikato West area commander Inspector Will Loughrin said police were visible in Paeroa and across western Waikato on Tuesday in relation to the “gang tangi”.
Gang members travelled from Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty for the tangi at a marae in Paeroa and a procession, Loughrin said.
“Police engaged with gang leaders to communicate our expectations about the behaviour of those attending.
“Police have been conducting checkpoints in, out and around Paeroa and western Waikato,” Loughrin said.
The operation was supported by the police Eagle helicopter.
“Everyone in the community has the right to be safe and feel safe and we ask you report any unlawful behaviour to police on 111 if it is happening and 105 after the fact.”
February 15 shooting
Police had been pursuing the man and unsuccessfully tried to stop his stolen vehicle with road spikes. After the man fled into a rural house on Mclaren Rd and threatened the parent and child, he was shot and critically injured.
Despite medical attention, he later died.
A Mclaren Rd resident, who spoke to the Bay of Plenty Times last Friday on the condition she was not named, said she had been at home napping about 1pm.
“And then I heard the sirens and I just saw the police outside there [on the road]. I just saw them getting their guns so I’m really scared.”
She went back into the bedroom “and then I heard some shots … maybe two or three”.
A second resident, who also spoke on the condition he was not named, told the Bay of Plenty Times it was normally a “quiet neighbourhood” so the events were a “big shake-up”.
He saw lots of police cars on the road but had “no idea” what was going on and did not go to investigate.
Matamata-piako Mayor Adrienne Wilcock said last week she was “shocked and saddened” by the event and Manawaru was a “tight-knit rural community: “I feel for the innocent people caught up in this and understand local police and the community victim support group are supporting them after what must have been extremely frightening for them.
“From a community perspective, this incident was an isolated one that was initiated in Hamilton and it perhaps appears by chance that it ended within our district.”
She said local police had several incidents to attend on Thursday.
“I applaud the work they do, especially considering the staffing challenges they face.”