Police are appealing for sightings of a white Nissan, amid gang tensions in Palmerston North

Police have invoked new legislation to disrupt gang activity, after a Mongrel Mob member was fatally shot in front of his Highbury home.

Officers now have powers to search the vehicles of suspected gang members - and seize weapons during times of conflict.

Police believe the Nissan was in the Croydon Avenue area at the time of Sunday's shooting.

A gang source in the city told our newsroom a Black Power member was recently de-patched and had his finger cut off, in a revenge-driven attack.