ARMED OCCUPATION ENDS, BUT LOCALS FEAR GANG WARFARE

Otaki residents fear a drugs "turf war" between rival gangs after the
arrest of two Nomad associates following an armed occupation at a local marae.

Police are pledging to keep a close eye on any gang activity but say the
area is not immune from a nationwide problem of gangs vying for power and
control of the drug scene.

Fears in the small Horowhenua town have risen after a group of six Nomads
occupied Katihiku marae last Sunday.

Two Greater Wellington regional council workers say they were shot at while
working on the banks of the Otaki River on Tuesday afternoon.

A group of whitebaiters were also threatened by a gun-wielding man about
the same time and warned to leave the area.

Armed police went to the marae yesterday morning after negotiations between
the occupiers, a police iwi liaison officer and iwi representatives on
Thursday night.

About 12 members of the armed offenders squad and a further 16 detectives
and general officers found the place deserted but recovered a small cache
of firearms and ammunition.

The gang members had agreed to quit the marae and leave their weapons behind.

A .303 rifle and a .22 rifle with a mounted scope were both found loaded
with full magazines. An unloaded 30/30 Winchester lever-action rifle was
also found with ammunition hidden nearby.

Two Otaki men, aged 42 and 22, were later arrested on charges of unlawful
possession of firearms and ammunition. The men, both believed to be Nomad
associates, appeared in Levin District Court and were remanded in custody
to appear next Wednesday.

Detective Sergeant Peter Govers said police had raided the marae on Monday
night after reports of shots being fired, but had found nothing.

They had then decided to take a "hands-off" approach, letting local iwi
liaise with the occupiers, while they sought to clarify the reports.
Children had also been staying at the marae.

An elderly Otaki woman said she was threatened by a gunman standing on the
opposite bank of the Otaki River as she fished for whitebait on Tuesday,
soon after she heard what she thought was a gunshot.

She said the man stood about 50 metres away with a rifle slung across his
shoulder and threatened her and her two sisters and niece.

"He just popped up and started yelling and screaming, using the four-letter
word, and told us to beat it. We skedaddled pretty quickly," she said.

She and her companions were terrified by the threats, she said.

"If they're full of drugs and that, who knows what they'll do. It's very
scary. I was just so glad to live."

A source said events had left residents fearing for their safety,
especially as Denis "Mossie" Hines, the notorious former president of the
Nomads now believed to be associated with the Mongrel Mob, was said to be
involved.

The source said a $20,000 "hit" had been put on a former member of the
Nomads by the rival gang, which wanted to take over the drug scene.

The target had moved to the marae, to which he had family connections, and
surrounded himself with Nomad gang members, associates and family for
protection.

Mr Govers would not confirm whether police wanted to speak to Mr Hines, but
said there was a feud between rival gangs seeking control over drug
distribution throughout the North Island.

Though there were concerns that rival gangs could begin a "turf war" in
Horowhenua at any time, he did not believe that this week's events had
signalled the onset of serious problems, he said.

Police believed only about four to six Nomads members remained in the area,
and the Mongrel Mob did not have an active presence.

"That doesn't mean they're not trying to set up base here.

"There is a large Mongrel Mob presence in Palmerston North," he said.