Skate bowl on borrowed time

Kaitaia's police are not enamoured of the town's skate bowl, in Jaycee Park. Senior Sergeant Geoff Ryan said last week that it had been a problem area ever since he had arrived in Kaitaia more than four years ago, not least thanks to young burglars who gathered there to drink their "ill-gotten gains".

"Significant harm is emanating from that area," he added.

"It's great for legitimate users, but a problem to manage."

He made those comments at a meeting prompted by the violent response to the arrest of a 15-year-old burglary suspect at the bowl (Youth is a one-boy crime wave, Northland Age February 18). But while there was some support for moving or closing the bowl, the consensus was that steps could be taken to address the immediate problem, then the broader issue of anti-social behaviour.

Mayor John Carter, who chaired the meeting, said he had already planned to raise the issue of police resourcing in Kaitaia at area management level, while the Far North District Council/Te Hiku Community Board would look at erecting a low fence to keep vehicles out of the park, the possibility of fencing the bowl and the Kaitaia squash club assuming management of it.

Mr Carter said he had visited the bowl before the meeting, and had seen children enjoying it. It would be a shame therefore to get rid of it.

FNDC officer Mike Colebrook said the bowls in Kaikohe and Kerikeri were well used without problems, but were in busy, highly visible locations. Kaitaia's, despite being close to the main street and the police station, was relatively secluded. He suggested that the park in Bank Street might be a better location.

Squash club spokesperson Nirelle McDonald said behaviour at the skate bowl had become intolerable. Routinely the scene of assaults and robberies, it was seen by some young people as a place to drink alcohol and consume drugs, day and night.

"A lot happens there, and they get away way with it," she said. When the police arrived "kids" scattered in all directions. She suggested fencing the bowl to reduce the options for escape, and locking it at night.

Businessman David Travers believed that a couple of resident police dogs would go a long way towards teaching young people to behave.

"They need to be caught and sorted," he said.

Meanwhile Senior Sergeant Ryan said he was planning to establish a community patrol (in line with the national model), while Mr Carter said he would be bringing the Mayoral Taskforce for Jobs to the Far North, starting in Kaitaia, as a longer-term solution to youth crime. He also agreed with community board member David Senior that rules had to be enforced.

"We need to uphold our bylaws, or why have them? The kids are laughing at us," Mr Senior said.

"This [skate bowl] area is supposed to be alcohol-free."

Cr Mate Radich wanted the bowl gone altogether.

"It was built when everyone was skateboarding, but it's very different now," he said.

"I'd like to see it taken out. It's been a major problem from the start and will continue to be a major problem."