'Not acceptable that people think that they can set up a roadblock on a state highway'

Twenty extra police officers are heading to Wairoa, Gisborne and Hawke's Bay to fight crime and illegal gang activity.

It's part of Operation Kōtare, a six-month effort to reduce the use of guns and violence in public.

Inspector Darren Paki said while planning began last year, the operation is timely.

Wairoa has recently seen two suspicious house fires, a shooting in the main street, and an incident in Raupunga where motorists were asked to pull over and a shot was fired.

"It's not acceptable that people think that they can set up a roadblock on a state highway, and so we will look to hold those people to account, use our resources to investigate fully what's gone on."

Since January 2022, there have been at least 55 gang-related shootings, seven this January alone.