Te Ururoa Flavell

Wellington, Oct 7 NZPA - Maori Party MP Te Ururoa Flavell was urging the people of a small Bay of Plenty town, where two teenagers died amid gang violence, to join a march against gang violence.

Tomorrow in Murupara there will be a "March for Life".

The residents want to send a message to feuding gangs that violence in the town must stop.

The march follows the death of Kaine Lewis, 17, the second teenager to die in a gang attack in nine months.

Mr Flavell said Murupara residents and others must send the message that "they've had enough" and reclaim the streets.

"Before this latest killing I thought real progress was being made in bringing peace to Murupara but seems that these people don't want to change."

In January Jordan Herewini, 15, died after being run down by a vehicle allegedly driven by a gang member now facing a murder charge.

Mr Flavell knew Mr Herewini and said he had "had enough" of the violence.

Mr Lewis was found with serious injuries on the driveway of a Tawa St house early on Saturday morning after a confrontation between Tribesmen and Mongrel Mob gangs.

He was dead when he arrived at Rotorua Hospital.

Police have arrested seven people for participating in organised crime, but had yet to charge anyone with the slaying.

Rotorua MP Todd McClay has joined the call for an end to the violence saying the residents were marching for the safety of their young people.