People in the small Northland town of Moerewa met on Thursday evening to discuss the gang presence in their town and other criminal activity.
The meeting was originally called by the school principal Keri Milne-Ihimaera, to discuss safety concerns after several fires involving stolen cars, near the school.
But the agenda has expanded after an assault on Friday night involving gunshots and a stabbing.
A Moerewa community leader Ngahau Davis says there have always been gang members living in the area.
But he says tensions have increased since the arrival of the Rebels motorcycle gang from Australia, with some Tribesmen members patching over, or joining the new gang, and others refusing to.
Mr Davis says the situation has pitted friends and relatives against one another.
