Police Minister Mark Mitchell says extra police from other areas will stay in the city "as long as they're needed" in the wake of the mass brawl which left two dead over the weekend.
On Saturday night, a fight involving 100 people broke out on Lytton Road in Elgin after two uninvited guests arrived, police said.
Two people were fatally stabbed. Three are in hospital and one person has been arrested. They will appear in court today charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Residents have been reporting their concerns and shock in the wake of the incident.
Speaking to Breakfast, Mitchell confirmed additional police officers will stay in Gisborne for "as long as they're needed".
He added the extra police presence in the city was to consider the homicide inquiry, potential retaliatory attacks and to ensure residents can "feel safe". Describing the work in front of police, Mitchell said there are "lots of witnesses" and the situation is "quite complicated".
Community on edge about being used for 'political point scoring'
Gisborne doctor Jed Hocart-Saunders told Breakfast the community is both worried and on edge about being used for "political point scoring". (Source: Breakfast)
Meanwhile, Gisborne doctor Jed Hocart-Saunders told Breakfast the community is both worried and on edge about being used for "political point scoring".
Hocart-Saunders said the event could be painted as a gang issue, whereas it is rather an issue of "brown faces that are falling through the cracks".
He said Covid-19, the weather events and issues related to healthcare are leading to people suffering in Tairāwhiti.
"There are people here that are struggling."
Hocart-Saunders added the solution is going to involve tough conversations about racism, colonisation and partnerships being dishonoured.
"Those are really hard things to talk about but we need to be talking about them in health and the community."
Ngāti Oneone Trust chairperson Charlotte Gibson also suggested there are deeper issues which relate to the incident.
"Since Covid-19, since lockdown, since [the weather events] there's definitely been a disconnect with people."
Gibson added that people weren't able to attend tangi together as a community during the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle.
"People who were affected by the cyclone were physically separated from [their relations].
"You may have known your neighbour, but your relations and the ones who come to your aid and all that, you haven't been able to connect with them really."
Neighbours 'shocked'
Speaking to RNZ, neighbours spoke of their shock in the wake of the incident.
One resident who lives on Lytton Road, Jocelyn Johnson, said she saw Black Power patches when bodies were being taken away.
"It's pretty scary when you wake up and all that's outside... and pretty scary seeing a whole Black Power type thing following one of the bodies that were released."
Police earlier said the fight was not between rival gangs.
Kim Johnson, Jocyelyn's husband, said violence in Gisborne was happening more often.
The family has lived on the road for 20 years, and the neighbourhood has been through some tough times.
"This seems to be something that just happens on a regular occurrence now. We've got this that happened last night (Saturday night). Last year, we had the one just around the corner where that young girl was shot in Titoki Street. It's sad. It's sad to see this sort of thing happen."
He said he hoped the police investigation succeeded and felt sorry for the people who have lost members of their whānau.
Meanwhile Raewyn Jacqueline Hurinu said Elgin residents are friendly and wave to each other, and added the news was "shocking".
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