Police are cracking down on gang violence in Wairoa and the regions surrounding the Hawke's Bay town, but say a fire at a vacant house in the town is thought to be unrelated. (File photo) Photo: RNZ
A fire that broke out in a vacant house in the Hawke's Bay town of Wairoa is not thought to be connected to ongoing gang unrest in the area, but is being investigated, police say.
Firefighters were called to the house on Apatu Street, about 7pm on Friday - Anzac Day, Detective Inspector Marty James said.
The fire was already burning strongly in the building when fire crews arrived at the scene.
"The house suffered substantial damage, and a neighbouring property was also damaged by the fire," James said.
"The house had been vacant for several years, and no injuries were reported."
A scene examination was carried out on Saturday, but it was yet known how the fire started, James said.
A recent spate of gang violence in Wairoa, Tairāwhiti and Hawke's Bay allowed police to be granted extra powers under a Gang Conflict Warrant. And on Friday they announced the launch of a police operation to crack down on the unrest.
"Enquiries are ongoing, but at this stage we are satisfied the fire is not connected to any gang-related incidents that occurred in Wairoa earlier this month," James said.
On Tuesday, shots were fired into houses in Wairoa that are connected to both the Mongrel Mob and Black Power, and emergency services were also called to an incident at a house with gang connections in Napier, on Thursday.
"We're also aware of a number of alleged gang-related incidents in Wairoa that have not been reported to us, including assaults, vehicle rammings, other damage to cars, and threatening behaviour," James said on Friday.
The police operation was "significant", he said.
"The Gang Conflict Warrant is issued under the Criminal Activity Intervention Legislation Act and gives us special powers to search vehicles of suspected gang members, and to seize firearms, weapons and vehicles."
Police would also be on the streets in high numbers, "to have a highly visible presence in the Wairoa community, and in communities around the Eastern District," he said.
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