Te Kuiti residents are concerned about a recent spike in criminal activity in the King County township.

A resurgence in gang activity in a King Country town has left residents fearful with reports of standover tactics and extortion.

Some Te Kuiti residents say gang members have been demanding cash from certain businesses and people, and in some instances threatening families unless they pay up.

Police have confirmed activity linked to the Mongrel Mob has ramped up in the last four weeks after a former member returned from Australia and settled in the town.

KELLY HODEL/STUFF Police are urging anyone who has had a run-in with gang members in Te Kuiti to come forward.

One local, who would not be named for fear of retribution, wanted to warn the community in the hope people will come forward to police and rally against what they say is bullying gang behaviour.

Although the gang had always had a presence in town, he said members had begun flexing their muscles, attempting to extort money from a few businesses.

There have also been reports of standover tactics and assaults.

"The Mongrel Mob presence is just getting worse and worse," he said.

"There's been some businesses, clubs and people around town who they have singled out and extorted for money."

Gang members were demanding cash, saying people "owed them money", or threatening people's families if they didn't hand over assets, he claimed.

KELLY HODEL/STUFF Te Kuiti has long had a Mongrel Mob presence but activity has ramped up in recent weeks.

"People are scared and worried, and don't know what to do."

Some were too fearful of their identity getting out to make a report to police, he said.

"As a community we need to stand together and put the word out there that this is happening. Hopefully there are people out there that this has happened to and they can come forward to police.

"This is a community problem - we all have to live together, but we don't want to live in fear and we won't live in fear."

Waikato police's western area commander Inspector Andrew Mortimore confirmed police had received reports of gang members making demands.

"We are aware there appears to have been a resurgence [of gang activity] in the community."

The upswing started slowly about four or five weeks ago after a gang member recently moved back from Australia. Things had escalated in the last week, Mortimore said.

"We will not tolerate gang members in the community holding businesses or members of the public to ransom, or holding any threat over them."

Police were looking at a wider group of people linked to the Mongrel Mob gang.

"Certainly people need to be aware there is a heightened alertness around Mongrel Mob activities in the community.

"If they do have concerns or victims then we encourage them not to confront the situation but come and relay that to us."

Workers manning the counters of the main street where Colin Meads' status stands tall on a rainy Wednesday say they have heard mutterings of recent ruckus amid a local gang.

One resident said he had heard about a recent clash between gang members and locals a few weeks ago.

"I heard there was someone in the gang who had come from Australia and was trying to pick up a patch. Typically it's pretty quiet."

One man who runs a business in both Te Kuiti and Otorohanga had witnessed a fight between younger gang members on a suburban street.

"I think there's a gang presence in most towns but sometimes there's more activity than other times. I'm not sure why there's a congregation at the moment.

He'd noticed a rise in gang members in nearby Otorohanga he believed may be because rentals were hard to find in Te Kuiti.

Waitomo District Councillor Terry Davey, who also runs the local Paper Plus store, wasn't aware of any recent gang issues.

"You see the odd gang member walking around town but they don't seem to cause much grief."

Born and bred in Te Kuiti, Davey said nothing had been raised at the local council meeting.

The Mongrel Mob has recently been linked to a spate of high profile shootings. Member Kevin Ratana was shot dead at a Puriri St house in Whanganui last week in what's believed to be a retaliation with rival gang.

And in July Hamilton man Robert Nelson was shot and killed when armed intruders stormed the Matthews Cres home of high ranking Mob member Mark Griffiths in one of three homicides police said was linked to gangs.

Mortimore said investigators were working on the Te Kuiti situation. But police needed to know about the incidents to act upon them, he said.

"Any victims or any witnesses who are concerned for their safety or friends and family we do encourage them to make contact with local police as we are looking to investigate what has occurred."

If you have any information or are concerned contact Te Kuiti police on 07-878 1450. Information can also be reported anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.