"We will burn any pub they drink at, any motel they stay at, and may take it to the extent we will probably try to shoot them off their motorbikes," Southern Skinheads leader "Max" said on radio.
At the Wellington Interislander ferry terminal yesterday morning, about 25 police, including members of the armed offenders squad, stopped and checked about 20 Hells Angels.
After the checks, roughly half of the bikers rode the remaining few hundred metres to the ferry without helmets.
Acting Wellington emergency response manager Inspector Kevin Riordan said one was arrested for possessing a small amount of cannabis and for thousands of dollars of outstanding fines.
He went peacefully and appeared in Wellington District Court yesterday.
No fines were issued for riders not wearing helmets, Mr Riordan said.
Police stopped five people for driving on the wrong kind of motorbike licence. Others paid up cash on the spot to settle outstanding fines.
Mr Riordan said the operation was really a traffic stop which included ensuring all the bikes were roadworthy and there were no problems.
"The armed offenders squad were there for the protection of police officers. We're dealing with a criminal gang."