A Wanaka cafe owner is "frustrated'' after his business was vandalised by youth over the New Year's Eve period.
Alchemy Cafe co-owner Carl Hamlin said tables and chairs outside his lakefront business were broken when crowds of "underage people jumped up and down on them'' on December 30 and 31, and January 1 and 2.
Mr Hamlin estimated between 150 and 200 people were outside the cafe on December 30.
"It was pretty obvious that they were intoxicated and too young to be in bars, so our tables became the prime gathering spot.''
The business had contacted the police about the situation more than once, but he was disappointed by the response, Mr Hamlin said.
"On the third of January there were still people gathering outside and that is when the police did respond.
"It is frustrating that it didn't happen before.
"What are the police here for if it is not to protect our property?''
Mr Hamlin acknowledged it was a "busy time'' for the police, but he thought they may have been "overwhelmed'' by the number of young people in the area.
A few tables and chairs had been damaged, he said.
"The damage is not horrendous, but it is still wilful damage.''
Another business on the lakefront, which did not want to be identified, said its property had also been damaged by the crowds.
Sergeant Aaron Nicholson, of Wanaka, said police had met business owners to discuss their concerns.
There had been three complaints of wilful damage over the New Year period, he said.
He said 13 police patrolled the area from December 28 to January 2, and seven extra police worked on New Year's Eve.
