Police

People Against Prisons Aotearoa Is raising alarm bells for community safety in a potential future where New Zealand police are armed.

The law has been described as a step backwards by researchers who argue it ignores the root causes of crime, such as inequity and poverty.

The new gang patch law came into force at midnight. The first person under the ban was caught at 12.03am on Thursday.

The world first study, involving thousands of hours of research into police practices and community engagement through a fairness and equity lens, is being unveiled this week.

For all of the hīkoi's contentious subject matter, one issue seemed harder to agree on than most - how big the crowd was.

Officers are ready to enforce the ban on gang patches, the Assistant Police Commissioner says.

Police have set up a major operations centre to monitor the national hīkoi opposing the Treaty Principles bill.

Two weeks ago, police executed 30 search warrants against homes allegedly connected to Mongrel Mob operations, including 15 in Ōpōtiki.

The iwi, based in the eastern part of Te Moana-a-Toitehuatahi, says raids on 15 homes led to 22 arrests but also adversely affected 37 mokopuna.

Superintendent Steve Greally was pleased many kiwis returned safely home to their whānau and friends.