The new Police Minister Mark Mitchell is still planning to crack down on gangs and intends to introduce legislation towards a ban on patches within his first 100 days.
It comes as about a thousand people gathered in the Manawatu town of Foxton on Monday for the tangi of a senior Head Hunters gang member. But police reported no significant issues.
State Highway 1 was at a standstill as a slow-moving procession of about a thousand mourners closed the road just north of Foxton.
They were there to lay William 'Bird' Hines to rest at a nearby urupa.
The senior member of the Head Hunters gang died last week. He was said to be both feared and revered and spent years behind bars.
"For too long we've seen these gangs thinking like they own the show. I have been very happy with the response to date in terms of the way police are responding and managing it," said Mitchell.
The procession began in Auckland on Saturday, lining up on their bikes. Gang members then made the 500km journey to Foxton. Police had a heavy presence.
"We are there for reassurance and to ensure that lawful behaviour and your community activities will continue as they normally would," said Assistant Commissioner Mike Johnson on Saturday.
On Monday, under the watchful eye of officers on the ground and in the air, police reported no significant issues and locals in Foxton said the same.
It's Mitchell's first day as Police Minister.
He said the new Government still plans to ban gang patches in public places which would make processions like this illegal.
"If we pass legislation and the gangs choose to ignore it and wear patches in public, the expectation is police will take action on it," he said.
But a Foxton resident has some advice.
"I've worked with the gangs and I don't have any hassles. If you leave them alone, they'll leave you alone," they said.
Though police won't be leaving this procession alone just yet, as they'll be monitoring their movements as they disperse.
