An Oamaru youth who admitted vandalising public toilets and other property at Otematata at Labour Weekend - a time when young people ran amok in the town - has been asked to meet and apologise to police and the fire brigade.
Ahuriri Community Board chairman Craig Dawson has written to the youth after his letter of apology was tabled at a board meeting this week.
In the letter, Mr Dawson said police had a very hard job to do and were under-resourced to handle such a situation that occurred over the holiday weekend.
"There are some young people who think this is a great opportunity to take advantage of the situation and cause mayhem and get away with it.
"But in the cold light of day, when trouble occurs, everyone wants the police to come running to their aid."
The volunteer fire brigade was also badly affected, with appliances pelted with bottles and other debris causing damage.
There was also the stress caused by continually being called out in the middle of the night to put out fires "that thoughtless idiots thought would be fun to light".
"These fire brigade people are just hard-working community-minded people who choose to sacrifice their spare time so that others can be safe in the knowledge that they will come and save their house/property and possibly their life."
The board was appreciative of the youth's letter and knew he did not act alone, but asked that he did both the board and himself "a considerable favour" by meeting and apologising to those affected.
They also wanted him to pass on to others involved that if they wanted to destroy the "unique and fun place" they chose to visit, then the consequences would be more rules, more policing and much less fun.
