
Conflicts in Tairāwhiti
A significant Police operation has begun across Tairāwhiti, following several concerning incidents stemming from tensions between rival gangs.
Eight incidents, involving assaults and firearms, have been reported between 16 March and 23 March. Police and gang leaders have been working to ease tensions, but an escalation in the conflict between rival gang members has forced us to draw on additional powers.
Yesterday afternoon, Police were issued a Gang Conflict Warrant under the Criminal Activity Intervention Legislation Act, giving Police special powers to search vehicles and occupants of vehicles of suspected gang members, and to seize firearms and weapons, and vehicles.
Officers from across the district are supporting the operation, which will involve a heavy Police presence in Gisborne and further afield. Our focus, and the focus of all staff, is the safety of our communities. The incidents we’ve been made aware of posed a very real threat to the lives of those involved, and innocent members of the public. We’re not going to tolerate it.
We are continuing to work with gang leadership while sending a clear message to all gang members that they are in our spotlight.
Additional Police will be patrolling communities across Tairāwhiti, stopping vehicles with links to gang members, searching addresses, and progressing enquiries into the recent events of concern.
We want to assure our Tairāwhiti communities that we are driving this hard and will be committing significant resources to holding gang members accountable for their actions.
Police need the community to help us, and people can do that by reporting illegal or suspicious activity, by calling police on 111 if it’s happening now, or making a report via 105 if it’s after the fact.


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Windy weather in Wellington and Wairarapa
From Wednesday, Wellington and Wairarapa will have some strong winds.
Here's what you need to know about the weather in the next two days:
- Metservice says Wellington's watch has a high chance of upgrading to a warning.
- Winds to blow 120kph in Wellington this afternoon
- From 6pm tonight Wellington is in for heavy rain until Thursday afternoon. This isn't going to stop, though, as more heavy rain is expected on Friday.
- Interislander has cancelled its sailings across the Cook Strait from tonight until Friday morning
- Niwa principal scientist Chris Brandolino said the biggest weather concern on Wednesday would be focused on the lower North Island, such as Wellington and Wairarapa.
“There will be some heavy rain and some strong wind...Wellingtonians are hardcore when it comes to wind but the wind gusts will be from the south and will be quite strong,” he said.
“Wind gusts could be upward of 120 to 130kph, so that has the chance to cause damage to power lines, trees and cause trouble driving especially for trucks and high sighted vehicles.”
- More info can be found on Metservice website


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