Hundreds arrested at Beach Hop

Whangamata police have arrested nearly 300 people this weekend at the annual Beach Hop event.

The Beach Hop is a mix of rock and roll and hotrodding, which has been held in Whangamata for around seven years.

Area commander Glenn Dunbier says 277 people have been arrested so far this year, compared with 224 for the whole event last year.

He says the numbers are surprising because Whangamata has been seeing a lot less holiday season trouble in the past few years.

Alcohol was a contributing factor in the most of the arrests.

Glenn Dunbier says his team will meet the event's organisers once it is all over, to see what can be done better next time.

- NEWSTALK ZB