
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.


Time to Tickle Your Thinker 🧠 —Try These Riddles! 🤯
I am a number that’s greater than four squared but less than five squared; I am odd, and the sum of my digits is 10—what am I?
Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post if you know the answer and the big reveal will be posted in the comments at 2pm on the day!
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Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.


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Poll: Would a new supermarket help NZ?
Nicola Willis will this weekend announce decisions taken by Cabinet to incentivise and encourage a third supermarket player alongside FoodStuffs and Progressive (Woolworths).
Do you think having a third supermarket chain will bring competition and lower grocery prices, or will the existing giants still dominate?

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62% Yes, it will help
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35.5% No, I doubt it'll make a difference
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2.5% Depends - I'll share below