There was a heightened police presence yesterday at the tangi of a Wairarapa man.
A post on social media by Wellington District Police warned the public that a “range of police staff” were being deployed to the area “to minimise the impact of a “gang tangi.”
Hundreds of people gathered for the tangi of the community elder, including members of several gangs. Police area commander Scott Miller said the deceased, although no longer an active gang member, had a history of gang affiliation, and police were made aware of the tangi through its intelligence unit.
Police contacted the immediate whānau, with whom Miller said police had a good working relationship in “the days leading up to the tangi”.
Miller said the day went smoothly and there were a few infringements issued due to such “driver and passenger behaviour” as “having body parts outside the car window”.
Members of the Nomads, Killer Bees, and Black Power attended the tangi.
