Police are arming themselves in Canterbury from today as gang tensions increase.
There are increasing fears of retaliation over the shooting of a gang leader's son. Photo: RNZ / Patrice Allen
Canterbury police have been ordered to carry firearms for the second time in a fortnight amid fears of retaliation for the shooting of a gang leader's son.
Members of the gangs are believed to have been involved in a double shooting in Kaiapoi earlier this month.
A police spokesperson says they were investigating heightened gang activity between the Rebels, Mongrel Mob Aotearoa, and the Mongols MC this morning.
They say the order will be reviewed continually and the community can be assured that police are taking action to mitigate concerns.