A unique rāhui, or customary ban, against gang violence in Kaikohe has been broken by a drive-by shooting.
No one was hurt in the incident, in which shots were fired from inside a car at a parked car on Kowhai Ave, just before 3am on Wednesday.
Detective senior sergeant Mark Dalzell, from Northland CIB, said early inquiries indicated the incident may be linked to ongoing gang tensions in the area.
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The rāhui was placed over Kaikohe on May 27, backed by a march through town of about 250 people. It was organised by Te Tiahotanga – a collective of five Kaikohe hapu.
Those gang tensions, between the Killer Beez and the Tribesmen, prompted Kaikohe hapū collective Te Tiahotanga to place a rāhui on the town on May 27, using Māori tikanga in an effort to stop the violence.
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It was followed by a fortnight of peace.
Kaikohe Business Association secretary Mike Shaw said the shooting and the breaking of the rāhui was very disappointing.
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Kaikohe Business Association secretary Mike Shaw says Kaikohe businesses need to feel safe in the town. (File photo)
The business association fully backed the rāhui and it would be up to hapū to decide an appropriate tikanga response to the shooting, he said.
“We fully support our hapū leaders stepping up to take a measure of responsibility for their family members involved in some of the anti-social behaviours – it’s great to see them coming forward with a different approach.”
The business association was also improving its CCTV network to help make the town safer, using funding gained through the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act, Shaw said.
Its next aim was to apply for funding to help cover a community street patrol, such as the City Safe security running in Whangārei.
Mane Tahere, a spokesperson for the hapū collective that placed the rāhui, was approached for comment.
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The police presence in Kaikohe has been increased with officers from Auckland, and police are taking the shooting “extremely seriously”. (File photo)
Police were also taking the shooting “extremely seriously”, Dalzell said.
“We have an extremely low tolerance for anti-social behaviour or violence in our communities.”
The police presence in Kaikohe was recently boosted with the use of officers from Auckland.
On Tuesday, police arrested a 29-year-old at a rural address near Kaikohe, as part of an investigation into another shooting where a man suffered a gunshot injury.
The injured man turned up at Bay of islands Hospital in Kawakawa on June 6. He was now recovering from his injuries at Whangārei Hospital.
The 29-year-old man is facing a total of eight charges. That includes unlawfully possessing a semi-automatic rifle, a .22 rifle and ammunition, plus possessing methamphetamine for supply.
He was remanded in custody to reappear in court on July 5.
Meanwhile, Northland police were also investigating a ramraid at a Whangārei liquor store early Thursday morning.
A vehicle was used to force entry to the business on Otaika Rd in Raumanga about 2.40am, a police spokesperson said.
“A group of offenders have taken a number of items before fleeing from the scene in a vehicle.”
