Gang members

The Commission had earlier said it did not feel comfortable going onto the gang's premises.

A gang advocate, Denis O'Reilly, said getting gang members to vote was a way of helping them become more law abiding.

RNZI reports O’Reilly praised the Commission for getting Black Power members registered at a meeting on a marae in Hawera recently.

"It's a symbol by the Crown that says, 'We care. Yes we will thrash you if you break the law, but we also want to engage with you'.

"So it's as symbolic as anything," Mr O'Reilly said.

Acting Police spokesperson, Su’a Le Mamea Tiumalu says they are trying to determine whether the teenagers are part of a criminal gang.

However, he says they were apprehended on suspicions of conspiracy to cause a riot.

“The five teenagers are under investigations for planning to start a fight in town. Police were monitoring social media and thanks to the help of the public we identified a few who were having exchanges about starting a brawl in town,” said Su’a.