Person critical after courthouse incident involving rival gangs

Author: Brianna McIlraith,
Publish Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2026, 2:27pm

Police and St John Ambulance staff outside Palmerston North District Court today. Photo / Samuel Sijim

A person is in critical condition following an incident involving rival gang members outside Palmerston North District Court.

Emergency services were called to the scene just after 10am today.

Inspector Phil Ward, acting Manawatū Area Commander, said in a statement to NZME that one person had been taken into custody following a physical altercation outside the court.

“At around 10am, police were called to the public entrance of the courthouse following reports of the altercation involving several rival gang members.”

An investigation has been launched and further arrests have not been ruled out, he said.

Hato Hone St John said it responded with one ambulance and one rapid response vehicle.

“One patient was assessed and was transported to Palmerston North Hospital in a critical condition.”

A man was taken to hospital by ambulance after an incident outside Palmerston North District Court. Photo / Samuel Sijm

Samuel Sijm told NZME he was in the area this morning when he came across the incident.

He said he had spoken to bystanders who alleged multiple people had fled the scene at speed.

Sijm said he saw a man being quickly loaded into an ambulance.

“He was in recovery position,” he said.

“Bystanders were understandably shook [sic] but there was still quite a lot of commotion and interest from the public.”

Brianna McIlraith is a Queenstown-based reporter for Open Justice covering courts in the lower South Island. She has been a journalist since 2018 and has had a strong interest in business and financial journalism.