"We sat down and worked it through for three years."
The resulting scheme began with officers taking a "pretty heavy-handed" attitude to unruly revellers in the first year.
The "no-nonsense approach" was combined with strategies that saw police mixing with holidaymakers from early on New Year's Eve, to the late evening, Mr Jeurissen said.
"With that consistent approach for the past three years, we have managed to work what we consider ... a pretty special change."
Police were considering not hiring the processing tent next time, he said.
In Whangamata, where there were 105 arrests, Detective Sergeant Dave Grace said there was a "totally different tone" among the revellers thisNew Year.
The only other arrests in Whangamata were three out-of-towners caught breaking into a bach.
In Rotorua, Maori wardens pitched in to help quell trouble.
"The Maori wardens mixed around some of the bigger bars and did really well with their presence," Senior Sergeant Ed van den Broek said.
In Nelson, police herded young revellers to a single spot - the Maitai campground - about 5km from the city.
The campground had security guards, no glass or dogs were allowed, youth workers were present to provide some guidance, and a hard line was taken on alcohol.
Notes were taken by police from the evening and planning for the next New Year's Eve begins in the next few months.
A high police profile and a moratorium on leave meant "all hands to the pump" on the big night, said area commander Inspector Brian McGurk.
Locked up
New Year 2008 arrest numbers:
* Taupo: 10 (previous years up to 300).
* Mt Maunganui: 180 (2007: 100).
* Whangamata: 105 (2007: 170).
* Wanaka: 15 (2005: 54).
