Police have arrested 24 people following a gang confrontation in the Hawke's Bay town of Wairoa.
Gisborne area commander Inspector Sam Aberahama says police were called to a house in Kaimoana Street occupied by gang members just after 9am on Tuesday after reports of gunshots and fighting.
Mr Aberahama says police are investigating what caused a large and violent brawl.
Reinforcements from Gisborne and Napier, including member of the Armed Offenders Squad, assisted the local police.
A man aged in his late 30s suffered facial injuries and is in a stable condition after being flown to Hawke's Bay Hospital.
Those arrested have been charged with unlawful assembly and are likely to appear in court on Wednesday.
Mr Aberahama says the property at the centre of the brawl has been cordoned off for a specialist search, although no firearms have been found at this stage.
Armed officers were also sent to the northern Hawke's Bay town in July after a 20-year- old Black Power member was shot in the face.
