Three associates of the Black Power gang in Wairoa have each been jailed for three years and four months for the armed robbery of a dairy while posing as members of the Mongrel Mob.
The trio - aged 18, 20 and 24 - were convicted of the aggravated robbery of the Mahia Ave Dairy in June. They pleaded guilty.
The Gisborne District Court was told the three men wore red coloured clothing items to give the impression they were Mongrel Mob members, and presented a firearm at shop staff, before making off with cash and cigarettes.
Meanwhile, Wairoa District Council has established a working group to consider whether it wants to follow Whanganui's lead and ban gang patches.
Chief executive Peter Freeman says the move has been prompted by a recent shooting at a petrol station, which was believed to be gang-related, though gang patches were not worn.
Mr Freeman says the working group will look at how the Whanganui by-law is worded and consider whether it is what Wairoa wants too.
He says a number of people in the community have asked what the council is doing, and have stated they are sick of gangs and want to reduce their impact.
The group will report back at the next council meeting mid December.
