There are calls for calm after an explosion of gang violence in the North Island town of Wairoa.
Residents are traumatised after Black Power members allegedly set up roadblocks looking for a Mongrel Mob member.
There have also been reports of a shooting and two homes have been set alight.
Armed police on the beat were brought in to protect the streets of Wairoa.
The small rural town is on edge as gang tensions rise again, reaching boiling point. Black Power versus Mongrel Mob.
"They need to stop. This is not acceptable behaviour. Enough is enough," Waiora deputy mayor Denise Eaglesome-Karekare told Newshub.
When Newshub asked Eaglesome-Karekare, 'Are you scared?', she replied, "I'm not scared but I fear for the innocent young bystanders."
In the past week, two houses about one kilometre apart have been gutted in suspicious fires. Fortunately, no one was injured.
On Sunday, there was a shooting on the main street of Wairoa. A man was seen pointing a fireman at another vehicle. No one was hurt and no one was impressed.
"I was horrified, I couldn't quite believe it. That is despicable behaviour," Eaglesome-Karekare said.
Newshub was told one of the gangs blocked off a road and searched every car going through. We understand one driver panicked and kept driving and a shot was fired at his car.
The tensions between the gangs date back decades.
"Let's get on top of this thing, whatever the reasons are. We can talk these things through. It will be a long process. It has been a long process. It's been 50 years in the making," Black Power life member Denis O'Reilly said.
Police are calling for calm and will announce on Friday plans to keep the town safe.
The people there say the actions of a few won't define their beautiful Wairoa.
