Praise for officers after gangs square up | Northland News | Local News in Northland

New Zealand's top cop has congratulated Northland police on containing gang tensions leading up to and during Waitangi Day.

Police commissioner Peter Marshall was on the frontline with his troops during the celebrations and witnessed first hand how officers dealt with rising gang tensions at Waitangi.

He confirmed officers intercepted a large number of Tribesmen motorcyclists en route to Northland who were searched and offensive weapons including knives were found.

Mr Marshall said police were instrumental in defusing a violent situation involving Tribesmen and Rebels members in Kaikohe.

Police were called to a Kaikohe service station after rival gang members began "eyeballing" each other on the forecourt.

About 40 Tribesmen gang members pulled into the Caltex service station on Broadway, in Kaikohe, when two members of opposing gang the Rebels stopped.

Kaikohe police Senior Sergeant Arthur McLean said the Tribesmen members had just ridden through a checkpoint on Mangakahia Rd, where officers checked drivers' licences and ensured bikes were roadworthy.

Knives were seized from members of the group, believed to be from the Murupara chapter.

There were no arrests.

Mr Marshall said when the gangs made it to Waitangi and tensions flared, they were successfully contained.

"They tried to cross the bridge but were stopped, alighted from their bikes, did a haka and retreated in a deflated manner - thanks to good policing," Mr Marshall said.

The commissioner was also present when Prime Minister John Key was subjected to what he described as "discourteous treatment" on the Lower Marae.

"Police work with the cards we're dealt and it was made less easy in this case by the presence of certain individuals, some with megaphones, intent on causing disruption."

Police were there, with uniformed staff outside and Maori wardens and iwi liaison officers.

"The Maori wardens were absolute game-makers on that occasion and throughout the next two days."