(R) Jamie Cox. Photo: Supplied
The head coach of Wairoa Boxing Club says they're "devastated" police have declined the permit for their fund-raising fight night - in the week leading up to event.
But police said they had identified several people involved - with gang associations - that could lead to confrontations or violence among supporters.
Wairoa Boxing Club's Jamie Cox said the club had sold 500 tickets - at $120 per head - for the night.
He said cancelling the event would leave them with no funding to support their free boxing programme for local youth and put the future of the gym in doubt.
"They're pretty much shutting down a local gym that's been going on for 25 years because they felt there was some risk that they couldn't manage.
"All the work that we've done over the years contributing to our town and contributing to the well being and behaviour of youth - that's what they're shutting down - so I feel it was a short sighted decision," Cox said.
Wairoa's showcase
Cox said organisers had already invested over $20,000 in the lead up to the fundraiser.
"It's Wairoa's little bit of a show case where everybody's got to dress up.
"It's not general admission; you have tables and there's food and platters and there's a bar and it's all pretty well behaved.
"We've bought food and hired a whole lot of stuff and booked venue's and booked judges with travel costs so it's going to wipe out our bank balance basically," Cox said.
Wairoa Boxing Club's Jamie Cox says the club has already sold 500 tickets. Photo: Supplied
Club's impact on youth inspires locals to compete
Wairoa local Courtney Hayward had been training for the last three months after putting her hand up to fight for the club.
She said she'd been inspired to take on the challenge after turning up for a few sessions and seeing the impact the club had on local rangitahi.
Hayward said she was one of the last people that would have expected to find herself in the ring.
"It has been really physically challenging but it's also been so rewarding to see how you could improve. [When] I started off I couldn't even step with my punches.
"Seeing the kids and the discipline that they had - and [their] growth - just made it so much more motivating," Hayward said.
Hayward said she had persuaded 30 friends to purchase tickets and the cancellation was "absolutely gutting".
"We don't have a lot of events. There's not enough people [in Wairoa] to sustain the types of access to services that there is in the bigger centres and when you've got something that is so amazing.
"And you've got opportunities for rangitahi to do something really cool - you've got to cherish these things," Hayward said.
Mayor supports police decision
Wairoa Mayor Craig little. Photo: Nick Monro
Wairoa Mayor Craig little said he had been to one of the club's four previous events and enjoyed it.
But he said he trusted the police perspective that there was the potential for trouble with people who might have attended the event.
"You've got to make sure you've got all your ducks in a line for an event like this.
"So the police have acted - because at the end of the day the police were responsible to keep everyone safe - and they believe probably that there could've been a risk," Little said.
He said a lot of people in the community were sick of gang activity and incidents in the area.
Gang conflict warrant approved to address heightened tensions
In a statement Tairāwhiti area commander, inspector Danny Kirk said police were investigating two shootings, an aggravated robbery and an arson alleged to have been committed by gang members in the previous month.
He said a firearm and ammunition were also discovered when four gang members fled police last week.
"For this particular event, police identified several people with gang associations.
"As would be expected, contestants are generally supported at these events by their friends, family and supporters, which - in this case - heightens the risk of confrontation and therefore violence either during or after the event.
"I have been in communication with both the Mayor and the local organiser and make no apology for taking this community's safety seriously.
"In my view an opportunity now exists for police, community leaders and gang leaders to come together for a robust conversation about how the unlawful behaviour of a few can impact pro-social community events like this, and to seek solutions to bring an end to long standing instances of intermittent gang violence," Kirk said.
Inspector Kirk said a gang conflict warrant had been approved to provide police with additional enforcement tools to bring heightened conflict and tensions between gangs in the area under control.
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