We would like to thank everyone for their patience during this busy time — we understand it can be frustrating navigating the town when it’s congested.
As expected, the New Year period brought a large influx of families and young people to Wānaka. The youth gatherings along the waterfront from December 27 to January 1 were generally well-behaved, with police dealing with a few altercations and making several arrests for various offences.
It was pleasing to see a continued decrease in the number of people bringing alcohol into the liquor ban zone compared with previous years. However, police still issued over 100 infringement notices for breaches of the liquor ban and underage drinking. We extend a special thank you to the many parents who came into town to supervise their young people during the festivities — your involvement makes a real difference.
A small number of intoxicated youths were located without adult supervision. Parents were contacted, and arrangements were made for the young people to be safely returned home.
Rhythm & Alps was once again a well-managed event, resulting in very few incidents for police to deal with.
Overall, given the large numbers of visitors in the area, it was pleasing to see such positive behaviour across the community.
Police have also attended a number of search and rescue incidents recently, and we would like to extend our sincere thanks to the volunteers from LandSAR and their families for their ongoing commitment and support. Their efforts save lives and are greatly appreciated. Of note, we now have access to a newly developed Wānaka LandSAR drone team, which is proving to be a valuable resource for search and rescue operations. LandSAR and Coastguard continue to be utilised regularly during the busy summer season.
Our roads remain a key area of focus. We ask motorists to drive with care and report any dangerous or careless driving to police by calling 105.
Over the New Year period, 12 people were apprehended for driving with excess breath alcohol. Police also received complaints regarding excessive charges from out-of-town taxi operators. While overcharging is generally a civil matter, if a fare is agreed upon and a higher amount is charged without your consent, police may become involved. We strongly advise passengers to agree on a fare before entering the taxi.
Finally, a reminder to parents hosting parties for young people — police are not a substitute for private security. Please ensure there are responsible adults present and appropriate measures in place to manage entry and prevent uninvited guests.
Thank you to everyone for helping to keep our community safe and enjoyable during this busy period.
