Napier MP Stuart Nash has labelled the latest in a number of shootings to take place in the city as "reprehensible" and is urging members of the community not to turn a blind eye if they know any information that may assist police.

Two men, one in his 20s, and the other in their 30s, are both in a stable condition at Hawke's Bay Hospital after sustaining serious injuries from a drive-by shooting just after midnight in the West Quay, Napier area.

A police spokeswoman said shots were fired from a vehicle as it drove up to a bar in the area. "The CIB is investigating and more information will be released when it becomes available. 

Less than 72 hours earlier, shots were fired at a house on Avondale Rd, Napier, shortly before midnight.  While people were in the house at the time, no one was injured. 

Nash, who used to be the Police Minister, said it takes a "community" to solve this issue, as the police "can't" do it on their own. "We can't just say this is just about police, it's about everyone stepping up and doing their bit." 

"It does take a community, so what I would say is if anyone in the community knows anything about this they need to come forward and let the police solve this because we just can't keep turning a blind eye or those who know things can't keep turning a blind eye because it's just not helping.

"I just find this behaviour reprehensible and I think the vast majority of people do as well," Nash said. "This is incredibly frustrating and if anyone is using firearms for illegal purposes in anyway shape or form police will go after them, I mean this is totally unacceptable." 

However, he believes Napier residents can feel safe. "These are isolated incidences. Sure, they are high-profile and we need to get to the bottom of these and make sure that they don't happen again but I think people of Napier, and Hawke's Bay can feel safe." 

He said a specifically organised crime unit set up in the region has already achieved some "pretty amazing results". Police Commissioner Andrew Coster's nationally co-ordinated Operation Tauwhiro also announced one of its first big wins in Wairoa on Thursday.

The six-week crackdown on gang activity in Wairoa resulted in 15 arrests, including members of the Mongrel Mob and Black Power. 

"I mean we have seen an increase in police numbers here but there's no doubt there's an increased focus on going after the gangs because we do recognise that they often are the people that are engaged in this illegal activity and it's just totally unacceptable."

Napier Mayor Kirsten Wise said her "primary concern" is the safety of those in the community. 

"I just want to reassure everybody that this is absolutely an area that, as a council, we are very focused on and we will be doing everything that's within our mandate as a council to provide a safe environment for our community." 

She has been on the phone with police this morning, and will be keeping in "regular contact". 

"Obviously, it's the police first and foremost who are responsible for dealing with instances like this and I have been on the phone this morning to talk to them and find out what I can about what actually happened and what they're doing which is very early on in the investigation at this stage and they weren't able to share too much information with me but have assured they will be keeping in regular contact." 

She said police don't know at this stage whether the incident was gang-related. They have been working with police over the last 12-18 months on this issue. "We'll have to sit down and discuss where to from here with regards to these incidents that have been occurring.

"It's completely unacceptable that we're having these happen here in Napier so we'll continue to support the police and other government agencies that are also involved in having discussions around some of this behaviour that's been happening." 

She also plans on speaking to central government on police resourcing.

"I think that right across the country we're seeing and getting a sense at times that police don't have perhaps the right level of resourcing to be able to do everything they need to be doing and that's certainly an ongoing conversation that I'm going to be having right at the top level with central government and the police." 

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