The owner of a Napier bar where a stray bullet from a shootout injured a staff member says the government is "delusional" about its efforts to quash gangs.
(File image). Photo: RNZ / Tom Kitchin
There have been several gang-related shooting incidents in Hawke's Bay over recent weeks and officials are demanding change.
Thirsty Whale owner Chris Sullivan said the night was going well on Saturday and early on Sunday morning, until a stray bullet from shooting between two gangs wounded one of his staff.
Sullivan said the gangs were across the road from the bar by a car.
"They had a confrontation of abuse, physical fighting and then shots were fired and one of the guys ran in front of our bar and the shots seemed to follow him when one of our doormen was struck," he said.
"We were totally innocent and it could've happened anywhere."
Sullivan said something urgently had to be done to stop this.
"I just think the government needs to sort of address the issue - that we have got a gang problem in New Zealand and getting worse, Hawke's Bay seems to have a serious issue with all these incidents.
"I mean ours is not an isolated incident, how many shootings have we had in the last few months - I can think of four. They're delusional if they think this problem's going to go away. They need to address it, obviously the gun buyback has only affected the nice people that haven't got guns anymore, gangs seem to have more guns than ever."
A neighbouring restaurant and bar, The Gintrap, was closed at the time but fragments of a bullet flew through a window, hitting a wall.
The Thirsty Whale and The Gintrap have not closed and remain open.
Police would not be interviewed today, but in a statement Eastern district commander Jeanette Park said officers caught two men who they believed were connected to the incident.
They were apprehended after a short pursuit near Hastings.
One man ran into a stream, but police were able to catch him.
They have not charged anyone yet.
"We are also communicating with senior members of Hawke's Bay gangs, as well as our partners in the community, in an effort to re-establish calm," Park said.
Local councillor Keith Price, who used to be a part-owner of the Thirsty Whale and a former police officer, said he was shocked to hear the news.
"It happened along West Quay which is a very very popular place with a high density of people on a Saturday night. It's scary, it's so dangerous and, from what I can gather, luckily we haven't got a loss of life."
Napier Mayor Kirsten Wise is meeting with local police tomorrow. In January last year, the community in the suburb of Taradale were in uproar after a gang shooting.
Napier Mayor Kirsten Wise is asking from more support from central government to deal with gang violence. Photo: RNZ / Dom Thomas
Wise said at the time they needed more support from central government. She said today she was still making that case.
"At the end of the day, I'm incredibly supportive of what our local police have been doing over the last 12 to 15 months, and I think we do need some additional resourcing and some additional support from central government, because we can't continue to have these types of incidents in our community."
Wairoa in northern Hawke's Bay has also had its fair share of gang violence recently, with one man turning up to hospital with a gunshot wound to his leg.
Its mayor, Craig Little, said the key to stopping the problems was to help police solve crimes.
"The key to the police doing really well is intel from the public, and if you know something, for God's sake let the police know or let that 0800 number they've got for confidential information [know], that's what the police need."
Police in Hawke's Bay remain armed this evening as the threat continues.
If you have any information or video footage which may assist the investigation, police can be called on 105 and quote Operation West Quay and/or file number 210301/4406.
Alternatively, you can phone Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.