Diners blasted by 'idiot' with fire extinguisher

Police are hunting for an "idiot" who sprayed roadside diners on Napier's West Quay with a fire extinguisher at the weekend.

A white van was driven along the waterfront restaurant strip on Saturday night, with one of the occupants leaning out a window blasting roadside diners with a high-pressure powder fire extinguisher.

Napier Police Sergeant Wendy Wright described the incident as "idiotic", and appealed for information about the van and its occupants.

"We had several diners there, including regular customers," Simon Kerr, restaurant manager at Provedore, said.

While none was affected by the powder spray their evenings were ruined, he told Hawke's Bay Today.

"It cost us plenty because we had to re-do the food," he said.

The spray was powerful enough to enter the building through the front doors - leaving a fine coating of white dust.

Tony Garrett, at The Gin Trap, said most of his diners had finished eating, so the financial damage was minimal.

"I saw what looked like a cloud of smoke and thought someone was just driving crazy. You get the odd idiot driving along here throwing things...we had a golf ball come in once,' he told the paper.

- NZPA