Police numbers boosted in Paihia for New Year's Eve

Police block Marsden Rd after a brawl which started in Paihia Mall during last year's New Year's Eve festivities spilled onto the town's main street. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Police are planning to boost the number of officers on duty in Paihia on New Year's Eve to avoid a repeat of last year's disorder in which 19 people were arrested.

Senior Sergeant Peter Robinson said extra staff arrived from Auckland yesterday and would stay until Monday.

They had been tasked with raising police visibility and carrying out day-to-day policing around the Mid North, with a focus on Paihia tomorrow evening.

''We don't want a repeat of last year so we've reviewed the staff numbers we had and put in additional resources,'' he said.

''We encourage people to enjoy the evening but we want them to do it in a safe and lawful manner. We want it to be a night to remember for the right reasons.''

Police warn two young women breaching the liquor ban during last year's New Year's Eve festivities in Paihia while a Police Ten 7 cameraman films for a future episode.

Police would enforce Paihia's liquor ban and would have checkpoints to make sure drivers were complying with the law. He urged anyone going to Paihia for the evening to have a sober driver and a plan for getting home.

Police will be based in the Memorial Hall on Williams Rd with prison vans for any arrests and to transport prisoners to police cells if necessary. Police numbers will also be boosted in Cape Reinga, Kaitaia and Russell, and officers will do foot patrols of Urupukapuka Island.

An Auckland-based maritime police unit would be stationed in the Bay for the next two weeks, using an IRB to check divers were using flags and boaties had the right safety equipment, especially life jackets.

They will be joined by Ministry of Primary Industries officers checking compliance with fishing rules, and Maritime NZ staff, and Department of Conservation rangers.

To mark the start of 2018 a fireworks display, organised by Business Paihia will be launched from a barge moored between Paihia and Russell. The Biggest Little Circus will perform on the Village Green at 7pm and 9pm and buskers will play at various sites around town.

Last year's festivities in Paihia started well but after midnight police were stretched by a series of drunken brawls. A fight which began in Paihia Mall spilled onto Marsden Rd, forcing police to close the road and use a dog to help break up the crowd that had gathered at Horotutu Park. Most of the fighting occurred along the waterfront but trouble was also reported on Kings Rd.