New Year around the worldKEY POINTS:
Thousands of New Year's Eve revellers swamped seaside resorts last night, boosting their populations by up to 15 times normal levels and setting shop tills jingling.
Although some people were arrested, police said the strict enforcement of liquor bans and the presence of officers on the streets had
reduced bad behaviour this year.
In South Auckland, police were investigating three fires which they believe were deliberately lit yesterday.
More than 40 firefighters in nine fire engines battled to extinguish the blazes, which burned through several hectares of Department of Conservation land off Wiri Station Rd.
In Titirangi, about 10,000 people had their New Year's Eve celebrations disrupted by a power cut.
A Vector spokeswoman said the cut happened about 6pm or 7pm, and power was progressively restored during the night.
The cause of the cut was unknown, but it could have been a problem at a substation.
In Mt Maunganui, 220 people were arrested between Friday and yesterday for liquor ban breaches and other minor offences.
Most spent time in the beach town's temporary cellblock, nicknamed Alcatraz.
Senior Sergeant Tania Kura warned that anyone drinking in cars would be arrested, as would anyone walking the streets with alcoholic drinks.
"We've had a lot of people blatantly drinking," she said.
Eighty-five of the arrests were on Saturday night, and the figures were slightly up on last year.
On the Coromandel Peninsula, revellers partied into the New Year.
Police patrolled the streets and gathered outside nightspots but reported no major incidents.
Temporary police stations had been set up throughout the peninsula in anticipation of the hordes of holidaymakers.
One visitor, Karl Burgess, said he had been coming to Coromandel for about seven years, and this year was the quietest New Year's Eve he'd seen.
"The younger ones don't seem to be coming here any more," he said.
"I dunno where they're going, but it's like they've taken the fun out of the Coromandel."
In Whitianga, hundreds packed into the Fire Place on the waterfront for a dance party, and across town more gathered in their best 70s and 80s gear for a Boogie Nights bash.
Music could be heard blaring from baches and homes around the resort town as people chose to have impromptu parties on their front lawns, evading the strictly enforced liquor bans.
At the Fire Place, many said they had tickets for the cancelled Mercury Rising concert that was to have been held north of Whitianga.
Tara Urquhart, Melissa Long, Aleisha Cropp and Leanne Bieleski joined the crowd, and told the Herald they were in for a big night.
"It'll be a big two weeks," Ms Bieleski said.
A group who came from throughout the North Island for the cancelled concert had to stay on for the New Year countdown because they couldn't get refunds on their accommodation.
"We were pretty bummed it was cancelled, but as long as you're around good people that's the main thing," said Sarah Devantier from Auckland.
They started their night at a Hawaiian-themed party before heading to a dance party later. And they agreed Whitianga wasn't the worst place in which to be stuck.
Some Whitianga business-owners were nervous because of the number of people who were in town with no party to occupy them.
"We're a little bit worried. There's a lot here who were meant to go to the concert," said one retailer.
Another said the police presence in town was significant. He hoped that, and strict enforcement of the liquor ban, would prevent disorder.
At Whangamata, 54 people were arrested between Sunday night and lunchtime yesterday.
Senior Sergeant Freda Grace said police had been kept busy, but it was "a bit quieter than last year".
"There seem to be more families around this year," she said.
Police said party-goers were well behaved, and the number of arrests was well down on last year.
People filled bars along Whitianga's main street and gathered at the beach for a fireworks display at midnight.
The area commander for eastern Waikato, Inspector Glenn Dunbier, said people were being locked up for "doing silly things" but the number of arrests was down compared to last year.
Police and retailers were saying that New Year celebrations this year had a more family atmosphere.
"Last year, we got the feeling we would have arrested more people if we had the staff, but we don't have that this time," Mr Dunbier said.
"People seem to be behaving reasonably well and are following the liquor ban. There's less wilful damage, less tagging and fewer car offences."
Mr Dunbier said no one had been arrested for serious offences.
"There's a lot of people around. The beaches are full, but we don't have the disruptive elements we have had in the past."
In Tauranga, 10 people were arrested for minor offences, including disorderly behaviour, on Sunday night.
In Rotorua, about 15,000 people were expected to attend the lakefront Mardi Gras concert last night.
About 50 police were patrolling the event and the wider area.
In Gisborne, a crowd of 15,000 was also expected at the Rhythm and Vines concert at Waiohika Estate vineyard.
Police had 40 staff rostered to work, including 12 brought in from Wellington and Hastings/Napier, but Senior Sergeant Moera Brown said the build-up to the big night had been trouble-free.
Taupo police also reported few problems.
Senior Sergeant Tony Jeurissen said only three people had been arrested for liquor ban breaches between Friday and yesterday, and he would be disappointed if the number exceeded 20 by this morning.
Last year, 40 people were arrested in Taupo on New Year's Eve; four years ago, the figure was 300.
Mr Jeurissen attributed the drop to police and the district council working together to make Taupo a family-oriented New Year destination.
At Paihia in the Bay of Islands, at least 60 police staff were on duty, and a shipping container had been converted into a temporary extra cell.
Its first inmate was 21-year-old Taka Waenga Poa, who was arrested about 9pm.
Mr Poa was good-humoured about his less than glamorous New Year's Eve surroundings.
The temporary cell was "quite comfortable bro" and "sweet as", and he was more than happy to pose for photographs.
"I've got no problem with that. Will you put me on the front page ?," he asked before a policeman handed him a bottle of water and bolted the door.
Police said he would have to wait "at least a few hours" before he would be taken to Whangarei, where he would appear in court.
Throughout Northland, holiday camps had a late influx of young holidaymakers yesterday, and police said they would be looking out for under-age drinkers.
The Far North area commander, Inspector Craig Scahill, said the celebrations had been fairly quiet, and the many police officers in the region had little to do.
Large crowds at Matauri Bay, Taupo Bay and Tauranga Bay had generally been well-behaved.
"Obviously there are a lot of people at those beaches but it's all been pretty much okay," he said.
Ronald Taylor, who regularly comes from Sydney to the Bay of Islands for his summer holiday, said this year was quieter than usual.
"You could say it's because of the liquor ban, it's definitely a more family-friendly environment, more so than other years," he said.
Ms Marlena Te Whero, of Te Tii Marae at Waitangi, said the build-up to the New Year had been one of the quietest in recent memory.
Ms Te Whero and other whanau run the Waitangi Holiday Camp and Waitangi Camping Ground, which at 6 o'clock last night were still filling up with hundreds of New Year revellers who wanted to take advantage of the beach-front views, $15 campsites and rock band.
Ms Te Whero blamed the fickle weather and steep petrol prices for a lower-than-usual turnout.
In the South Island, teenagers have been pouring into Nelson and the surrounding area.
Many are staying at the Maitai Motor Camp, about 4km from central Nelson.
Traditional hotspots Wanaka and Queenstown were also filling up fast.
The Southland Times said up to 3500 people were expected at the Lake Hawea Motor Inn for what would be one of the biggest New Year pub gigs in the country.
- NZ HERALD STAFF
