New Wairoa police chief Maui Aben looking to quash town s gang reputation
6 Feb, 2021 08:31 PM
3 minutes to read
After nearly 35 years in the force, Wairoa s new police leader is hoping to change the town s undeserved reputation . Senior sergeant Maui Aben has been appointed the new area response manager for Wairoa, officer in charge of Wairoa police station and the sole-charge rural stations of Mahia, Kotemaori and Tuai.
Despite having spent the bulk of his career working as a prevention manager, tactical co-ordinator, custody manager and rural manager in Gisborne, Aben spent 12 years living and working in Napier.
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But, Aben admitted Wairoa has major challenges and an ongoing gang issue.
Wairoa deserves better : Town over it as police arm up after gang shootings
26 Jan, 2021 11:26 PM
4 minutes to read
The picturesque Wairoa on an awesome day, without the shootings. Photo / File
Hawkes Bay Today
Shootings in Wairoa have prompted an urgent telephone conference between police, community and agency leaders in Wairoa in a bid to find answers to decades-long, often-armed gang-based conflict in the area.
But, revealing the meeting took place late yesterday, Gisborne-based police Tairawhiti (Gisborne, East Coast and Wairoa) area manager Inspector Sam Aberahama said there are incidents and details police are not being told about.
He said it s all about red and blue – sometimes within a family and sometimes intra gangs rather than between gangs.