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A neighbour says she heard screaming and stepped outside to see a brawl of about 100 people that ended with two men dead and three taken to hospital with critical stab wounds.��

Police forensics are still on the scene at Lytton Rd in Gisborne and cordons remain in place as investigations continue into��the massive disorder event after a 21st birthday party on Saturday night.��

A resident who lived near the address of the party, who spoke to ��һ�ǿ����� on the condition of anonymity, said she heard screaming about 11.30pm and stepped outside to see what was going on.��

“I just heard all the screaming. Women screaming. I came out and saw everybody on the road and they were just all in one pack. It was hard to identify who was who in the dark.”��

She wasn’t sure about numbers of people involved, but said it was a lot of people.��

Lytton Rd remained cordoned off on Monday after a brawl at a 21st birthday party on Saturday ended with two dead and three injured. Photo / Paul Rickard, Gisborne Herald��

“A lot of young people, 18-year-olds maybe.”��

She said she knew of the family who lived at the address and they were “lovely people”.��

A 29-year-old man will be in court this afternoon on charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.��

Police Minister Mark Mitchell is��urging people in the Gisborne community not to consider retaliation��and a local councillor said “there is no future in utu”.��

A neighbour heard screaming and saw a brawl at a 21st birthday party on Saturday ended with two dead and three injured. Photo / Paul Rickard, Gisborne Herald��

Gisborne Councillor Colin Alder told ��һ�ǿ�����talk ZB’s��Mike Hosking Breakfast��he has it on reasonably good authority gangs are involved, but “they are not at war, as such”.��

“It was an unfortunate event at a party where alcohol and possible drugs were involved... who takes a knife to a party?”��

The risk of retaliatory attacks was always considered by police, Mitchell told TVNZ’s��Breakfast��this morning.��

“It’s obviously an awful finish to what was a family celebration”, Mitchell said, so people’s focus should be on supporting family who were mourning.��

“Any thoughts of retaliation should disappear immediately.”��

Mitchell told ��һ�ǿ�����talk ZB the brawl occurred at a 21st birthday party, not a “gang meet conflict”.��

Additional police staff were brought in from Hawke's Bay to help with investigations in Gisborne. Photo / Paul Rickard, Gisborne Herald��

“There might have been gang members there... but the scale of it was unusual,” Mitchell said.��

Mitchell did not deny there was a large gang presence in the region, but fear of a gang war was unwarranted.��

Alder said there has been an increased gang presence in the country, but would like to encourage the gang leaders to keep talking.��

“There is no future in utu. You will put more lives at risk and more time will be spent behind bars.��

“I would just like to put a thought out to the mothers of the boys involved. I appeal to them to talk to their sons and stop this thing escalating.”��

Inspector Darren Paki said police received a number of calls about a “mass disorder” occurring at an address in Gisborne at 11.30pm on Saturday.��

A large fight had broken out on to the street and additional staff as well as the Armed Offenders Squad were called in for back-up.��

“We understand the fight had broken out after two uninvited guests [who] arrived at a whānau gathering,” Paki said.��

Two victims were located upon police arrival and police staff attempted to provide emergency medical assistance, but both men were later confirmed deceased, Paki said.��

Three others are currently in hospital with injuries believed to be caused by a stabbing.��

“Police from around the district and surrounding areas have been called to boost our staffing numbers for reassurance,” Paki said.��

A police cordon at corner of Birrell St and Mānuka St, Gisborne. Photo / Scarlett Cvitanovich��

Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz said she had been receiving updates from the police chief about the situation and investigation.��

Stoltz described it as an “absolute tragedy”.��

“It is really sad and our hearts break for the whānau involved,” the mayor said.��

Stoltz reassured the public that Gisborne is a “safe place” and police were in control of the situation.��

“I do want to reassure everyone. Please look after each other, this is a distressing time for our Gisborne community so be kind and reach out,” she said.��

Stoltz said while the hospital was previously in lockdown, the emergency department is currently open for those needing care. There would be a police presence “just to make sure everyone feels safe”.��

A full scene examination was expected to be completed today.��

Paki said they were working closely with leaders in the Gisborne community to reassure that the community feels safe.��

“This is very clearly a distressing situation for the community and particularly for the families now grieving loved ones. What should have been a happy occasion for this family, fuelled by alcohol, has turned into an ugly and an awful tragedy for the people involved.”��

A 45-year-old man and 21-year-old man both remain in hospital in a serious but stable condition with suspected stab wounds.��

Meanwhile, a 30-year-old man is in a critical condition in the intensive care unit.��

James Pocock joined��Hawke’s Bay Today��in 2021 and writes breaking news and features, with a focus on environment, local government and post-cyclone issues in the region. He lives in Napier and travelled to Gisborne for this story.��

- additional reporting Murray Robertson, Gisborne Herald��