The Queenstown Lakes District Council also wants to cast the net wide for ideas on how to reduce the risk of harm to young party-goers.
That was the outcome of the first meeting of key stakeholders held last week at the Lake Wanaka Centre to discuss the behaviour of young people in the days before and after New Year’s Eve in Wanaka.
Attendees included Wanaka police, Queenstown Lakes deputy mayor Calum MacLeod, Wanaka ward councillors Quentin Smith and Niamh Shaw, Kahu Youth workers, representatives from Wanaka Alcohol Group, Summit Events, Cougar Security, and council staff.
The meeting followed a call for "action, not plans" at the last community board meeting by Cr MacLeod.
He told the board he had witnessed police herding large crowds of young people over to Pembroke Park at night during the New Year period, and he suggested an event be held for the 12- to 17-year-old age group.
Council relationship manager arts and events Jan Maxwell said "Cr MacLeod’s suggestion of an event was one of several ideas discussed at the meeting".
"We are continuing to look more broadly at other places in New Zealand — at councils and events with a youth demographic — for further ideas."
It was still early in the process and it would be "a while" before any decisions would be made, she said.
No date or place has been confirmed for the next meeting.
