Vigilante groups in Tauranga and Christchurch, claiming to catch paedophiles, have posted videos online of their violent assaults on men.

Videos on TikTok and Instagram show the groups arranging meetings with men on the app Grindr, who are then confronted and accused of attempting to meet underage boys for sexual activity.

In one video, a young man is punched and falls to the ground, while another clip from Christchurch shows a group confronting a man at what appears to be a fast food outlet.

Another clip shows an individual kicking a man in the neck, while in a separate video another man is repeatedly punched in the face.

In another video, a man is forced to strip naked and recite to the camera that he’s been caught.

The group claims they are trying to keep “the streets safe” and has received praise from online followers.

But some online critics say they’re just as bad as the men they’re luring.

In an online response, a member of the group wrote, “my community n ped huntinf whanau will bak me n TPC 190% You are apart [sic] of the problem, these mutts need a good hiding, putting them in a cell doesn’t do shit ..m It’s simple, meet up with kids and we catch you, we hurt you so shut the fuck up dickheads.”

A police spokesman said they were aware of the accounts and would comment when they able to provide more information.