Photo: RNZ/John Edens

The the first arrest was made just three minutes after the law came into force on thursday, police reported that 12 people had been caught on the first day of the new gang ban.

The new law, which bans the placement of gangs in public places, came into force just after midnight on Thursday.

Deputy Commissioner Paul Basham said there had been several arrests and charges in the first 24 hours of the ban, with Prime Minister Chirstopher Luxon calling it “fantastic”.

“What I was really impressed with is that three minutes after 12 we have our first arrest,” he said.

Luxon said the police were “quite capable” of enforcing the law and thought they were doing a good job.

“I’m doing a great job, a great start… I make no apologies for going after the gang life.”

Meanwhile, the gang members were already there adapting their insignia to circumvent the ban, while others warned of potential violence.

But the police and the government were adamant about the ban it will work and make things safer.

Waitematā

The president of Head Hunters West had his patch and motorbike confiscated after officers executed a search warrant at a property on View Road, Henderson on Friday morning.

Five members of the patchwork gang were seen on CCTV riding their motorbikes into Wellsford at around 1.20am on Thursday.

A motorcycle belonging to another gang member, along with his patches, was also seized during the search warrant due to the owner’s outstanding fines.

The gang leader and a 52-year-old man will be charged with an offense under the Gangs Act 2024 in connection with the public display of gang insignia.

In another incident, officers on foot patrol at Henderson night markets at 7.40pm saw a man wearing a hoodie with Head Hunters insignia on it.

The 27-year-old was arrested and charged.

He is scheduled to appear in the Waitakere District Court on November 27.

Counties Manukau

At 10.35am, officers patrolling the Papakura area saw a man outside a house in Rosehill wearing a Mangu Kaha patch.

The 51-year-old man initially refused to surrender his patch to officers, but eventually did so.

He was arrested and charged with displaying gang insignia in a public place.

He is scheduled to appear in Papakura District Court on November 28, 2024.

Meanwhile, police were called to Porchester Road, Takanini, at 1.40pm after a man wearing a band patch stole a vehicle.

Officers found the vehicle nearby and then the alleged offender, a 51-year-old Mangu Kaha member in Ōtara.

Waikato

Hamilton police saw a man wearing a Mongrel Mob T-shirt enter a fast food restaurant in Lynden Court at 2 p.m.

The 41-year-old man was arrested and charged with displaying gang insignia in a public place and had his shirt confiscated by officers.

He is scheduled to appear in Hamilton District Court on November 28.

Meanwhile, at 11.15pm, officers conducting a traffic stop on Tristram Street saw the driver wearing a Mongrel Mob cap.

The cap was lifted and the 35-year-old man was issued a summons to appear on a charge of displaying gang insignia in public.

Bay of Plenty

Tauranga police received a report that a member of a patchwork gang was riding a motorcycle without plates on State Highway 29 at 11.40am.

Officers who later saw the same motorcycle leaving an Arataki address conducted a search of the address where they found a Greazy Dog patch and helmet.

They have been seized and a 44-year-old man will be summoned to appear in court at a later date charged with displaying gang insignia in a public place and driving while suspended.

Meanwhile, Rotorua police arrested a 20-year-old man on Ngongotaha Road at 3.10pm for breach of bail.

The man was wearing a T-shirt with Mongrel Mob insignia and also had a number of weapons.

The T-shirt and weapons were confiscated and the man was charged with displaying gang insignia in public and possession of offensive weapons.

He is scheduled to appear in Rotorua Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

Eastern District

The first person to be caught breaking the law was a 51-year-old Napier man.

He was stopped by police in Southampton Street, Hastings, at 12.03am after officers spotted a large Mongrel Mob sign on the dashboard of his car.

The man was issued a summons to appear in court at a later date for displaying gang insignia in public and the sign was confiscated.

At 11.05am, Wairoa police stopped a car driven by a member of the mongrel patched mafia.

A cap with Mongrel Mob insignia was seized and a 27-year-old man was arrested and charged with displaying gang insignia in a public place.

He is scheduled to appear in the Wairoa District Court on Friday.

At 1.20pm, Wairoa police saw a man wearing a T-shirt displaying Mongrel Mob insignia at a business on Paul Street.

The T-shirt was confiscated and the 45-year-old was arrested and charged with displaying gang insignia in public.

The man also faces charges of burglary and receiving stolen property and is due to appear in Gisborne District Court on Friday.

Police also saw a man wearing a Mongrel Mob cap at a service station on Havelock Road, Havelock North, at 11.45pm.

The cap was lifted and the 35-year-old was summoned to appear in court at a later date accused of displaying gang insignia in public.

Tasmania

Police were called to an address in Stoke after a West Side member was seen wearing a gang patch in public.

Police located the 30-year-old man and confiscated the gang patch.

The man was summoned to appear in court at a later date charged with displaying gang insignia in public.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox. of email every day of the week.