Kapiti Coast District councillors will be meeting this morning to discuss how the Kapiti Lights area could be made safer following the violent deaths of two young men in five weeks.
Mayor Jenny Rowan said such incidents were seldom random and police had reported a small but ugly culture of young men hooked into drinking, drug-taking and fighting in Kapiti.
"There is no one solution and there is certainly not a quick fix. The police cannot provide all the answers, neither can council, or any other single agency," she said.
Ms Rowan had met police, councillors, kaumatua Don Te Maipi, senior council staff and staff from the Monteiths Junction Bar at Kapiti Lights to discuss ways to manage the situation and increase public safety.
Councillors were this morning having an informal meeting to discuss options including increased lighting and the use of CCTV cameras.
The council and police would also work with local business owners to improve safety in the area.
Council kaumatua Don Te Maipi is also planning a wider community meeting.
He called for more Maori Wardens in Kapiti to support both the community and the police.
Yesterday Tristim Eastham, 24, a labourer from Porirua, entered no plea when he appeared in Porirua District Court charged with the murder of 20-year-old Sean Strongman-Lintern.
Mr Strongman-Lintern died after a fight outside the Kapiti Lights Complex early on Saturday.
His death came five weeks after 17-year-old Izak Millanta died near the same complex.
The men men knew each other, playing for the same league team, and Mr Strongman-Lintern reportedly tried to help Izak on the night of his death.
A 25-year-old man has been charged with assault over Izak's death.
