Life goes on as normal in Ōpōtiki, residents say, despite a police crackdown following gang tensions in the Bay of Plenty town.

Stuff has contacted a number of community leaders, including the mayor and district councillors, but none have been willing to speak about the current situation for residents.

But those in the community who did speak off the record, say life continues fairly normally, with main street businesses still operating and residents able to do their shopping as usual.

On Monday, the police acting area commander for Eastern Bay of Plenty, Senior Sergeant Tristan Murray, said an operation is underway to suppress gang-related violence in Ōpōtiki, following at least two recent incidents in the town involving firearms.

On Saturday, a 20-year-old woman was shot in the back of the arm. She told police she had been injured when the car she was in was shot at. The woman was taken to Whakatāne hospital in a serious condition and was discharged from hospital on Monday.

On Tuesday, Eastern Bay of Plenty commander Inspector Nicky Cooney said police had executed nine search warrants over Labour Weekend, seizing $27,000 cash, weapons – but not firearms, ammunition, and LSD and cannabis.

Cooney said Ōpōtiki and Whakatāne police were using powers granted under the Criminal Activity Intervention Legislation Act (CAIL) 2023 to quell ongoing gang tension in the area.

This legislation, which came into effect in April, allows police to apply for special search powers during times of gang conflict.

Two men were arrested and were due to appear in Ōpōtiki District Court on Thursday, with a 22-year-old facing charges of possessing class A and class C drugs, and unlawful possession of ammunition. While a 36-year-old man is charged with possession of offensive weapons.

In June, Mongrel Mob president Steven Rota Taiatini was killed in Ōpōtiki when he was run down in a street during a stoush between Mongrel Mob Barbarians and Black Power.

At the time, Ōpōtiki mayor David Moore denied the town was being held to ransom by gangs when there was an influx of family members and gang members for the tangi.

On Wednesday, police said investigations were continuing into the events of the past week, which included police engaging with key community leaders, iwi and gangs.

On Tuesday, Cooney said police would continue to be out in the community, “ready to respond to any unlawful behaviour by gangs and anyone who believes that they are above the law”.

“We are sending a clear message to all gangs and the wider public that police do not tolerate unlawful behaviour and will work hard to hold people to account,” she said.

-Erin Johnson/Stuff.