Police have revealed a Mongrel Mob member was shot and killed in front of his children in his car outside his Palmerston North home last month.
Detective Sergeant Dave Wilson described the murder as a "callous and inexcusable crime" as police continued their investigation.
Hori Gage, 27, was fatally shot in his vehicle outside his home on August 6 in the Palmerston North suburb of Highbury.
In an update on Wednesday, Wilson released further details about the murder and urged anyone with information to come forward.
"This was a devastating situation in which a father was shot in front of his children, who were also in the car.
"It was only by sheer luck that the children were not injured in this callous and inexcusable crime."
Wilson said police are following "strong lines of enquiry" and believe Gage's murder was linked to events in a Palmerston North tavern on Friday, August 4.
"We would still like to hear from anyone with information about the movements of a white 2005 Nissan Teana, registration HLQ924, on Sunday 6 August."
The vehicle was located burnt-out on Aranui Road later that day, according to Wilson.
"A team of approximately 15 detectives, some from out of area, are determined to find out what has occurred and hold those responsible to account," Wilson said.
"We would like to thank the public for their assistance to date.
"Anyone with information who hasn't yet come forward is urged to do so by calling Police on 105 or going online at https://www.police.govt.nz/use-105 using 'update report' and referencing file number 230806/2952. Information can also be shared anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111."
The 27-year-old father's death came after days of unrest between the Mongrel Mob and Black Power in the city.
As gang tensions continued to boil, Manawatū area commander Inspector Ross Grantham told AM last month local police are specifically "looking very closely" at the Mongrel Mob and Black Power and were using new legislation to crack down on them.
"We can disarm, we can disrupt and try to de-escalate the threats that they pose to each other and then minimise the risk to the public and keep everyone safe," he said.
Insp Grantham told AM's Laura Tupou an "influential member" of a gang has contacted police to get the groups together and try and resolve tensions "before more people are hurt".
He wouldn't be drawn on which gang the member was from as talks were in their "early stages", but said it's a "sensationally positive move by the group, and I'm committed to making that happen".
