Police have used a business analogy to describe the gang situation in the Western Bay of Plenty

Around 250 people turned out to a public meeting in Tauranga last night to hear from local mayors, police and the health sector on the issue.

Police Area Commander Inspector Clifford Paxton says businesses, that is gangs, require wealth to grow and proliferate.

He says you either need to restrict wealth creation or remove wealth generated, to stop proliferation.

Paxton says if there's no money in it, it's no longer attractive - and there remains both the challenge and the opportunity.