The tangi, for a prominent Mongrel Mob member and his partner, was largely a peaceful affair, according to a family member who approached Sun Live.

A large group of Mob members lined Judea Road outside the Huria Marae, as a contingent of Police observed from the background. 

Men pose outside a gang-connected funeral in Judea, Tauranga today. Photo / Tom Eley

Gang patches were removed, and some members displayed Mongrel Mob facial tattoos, but they mainly maintained a friendly demeanour, the family member said.

“Even the old-timers were respectful today,” he said.

The family member approached Sun Live out of concern that the media infringed on a funeral—something that would not be considered acceptable if it were another member of the public, he said.

Men with Mongrel Mob tattoos on the street near Huria Marae in Judea, Tauranga. Photo / Tom Eley

There were two tangi in Tauranga, one for the Mongrel Mob captain Ned Kelly and the other for his partner at Huria Marae.

“I tried to go to my uncle’s one, but the cops had already blocked it off, so I came here,” he said.

Mourners – some wearing red with Mongrel Mob facial tattoos – lined the street outside the marae. Photo / Tom Eley

The Police had been disrespectful during the event, according to social media posts and family members. 

A Police officer in attendance told Sun Live the tangi itself had finished at noon.

Cars formed a convoy and began to leave the marae at about 12.30pm to attend Tauranga’s crematorium on Pyes Pa road. 

In Matapihi, a large convoy of police vehicles left earlier this morning, and officers were walking back to their cars from a cordon. 

More than 12 police vehicles were parked near the entrance to the peninsula suburb, with others parked further down. A police helicopter circled the area before flying off towards the city.

Video footage shows Police outside Otūmoko Urupā in Matapihi.

Two Matapihi Rd residents who did not want to be named said Police set up a cordon at 9am yesterday and had been stopping vehicles, according to the Bay of Plenty Times.

The 20-50 officers present yesterday grew to “perhaps as many as 200″ today, supported by the Eagle helicopter.

There were so many police vehicles, including paddy wagons, vans, trucks, and unmarked vehicles, that the couple struggled to leave home.

Some of the people who were stopped verbally abused Police and were videoing and photographing them. 

The couple said they were in support of the Police ensuring there was order where people were wearing gang patches.

- With additional reporting from Tom Eley