The melee, which erupted during a murder accused’s hearing, spilled out onto the streets, right outside the halls of Parliament, prompting an armed police lockdown.
Heated exchanges from the public gallery ignited the incident, which lasted a mere 30 seconds inside the courtroom but the chaos continued on Molesworth St, leading to a heavy police response, including ten cruisers, a van, and two ambulances descending on the scene.
The cause of the commotion was the first High Court appearance of three individuals charged with the murder of Stokes Valley man Rawiri Wharerau, which drew a large crowd of around 40 supporters and family members, each side vocally clashing as a defendant was led away, igniting the brawl.
In a scene straight out of a movie, one bold family member even tried to climb over a 2m perspex barrier, only to be thwarted by security. The gallery quickly turned into a battleground, with both groups going at it hammer and tongs.
Outside, the drama intensified as armed officers shut down the street, with reports of the disorder linked to individuals with gang connections.
At the heart of the case are three accused: a 33-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman, both charged with the murder of Wharerau during a 50th birthday bash, and an additional charge of attempting to murder his brother, Hemi Wharerau.
The woman faces further charges of assaulting Hemi with a firearm. A 53-year-old woman is accused of aiding the defendants post-crime, providing food, transport, and communication support.
Despite the uproar, the trio were granted continuation of name suppression, much to the dismay of Wharerau’s supporters.
The tragedy at the core of this spectacle occurred at Wharerau’s George St home, where he was discovered fatally shot, surrounded by desperate attempts at resuscitation. His brother was left fighting for his life in the hospital.
Rawiri Wharerau, known to be a patched member of Mangu Kaha, a gang tied to Black Power, met his end during a birthday celebration turned deadly, marking a violent chapter in Wellington’s criminal history that now sees the courtroom as its latest battleground.
