Noise control officers' party too loud

Noise control officials had the tables turned on them when police were summoned to a rowdy staff party after residents complained about the loud music.

Kapiti Coast District Council staff - including noise compliance officers - were partying hard and enjoying a night off from investigating complaints, the Dominion Post reported today.

But their knees-up drew complaints from Te Horo residents who could not hear their own televisions over the din.

About 200 staff and partners attended the party at Te Horo hall, near Otaki, on Saturday night, but while staff rocked on the old wooden floorboards, two nearby residents unable to hear their televisions went marching over to complain.

Peter Vaughan, who lives opposite the hall in School Rd, said he walked out to inspect the party and was shocked when he saw the council vehicles parked along the verge and realised it was a council function.

Sergeant Noel Bigwood was on traffic control when a resident flagged him down outside the hall about 9.20pm to complain about the noise. He told the partygoers to lower the noise level.

"It was really thumping but they reacted immediately and turned the bass down. Normally we only respond to assist noise control officers employed by the council, but in this case I was on the spot."

One staff member said he found the volume so loud he had to leave the party.

Social club chairman Leicester Drake said council committee members visited the nearest neighbours on Friday advising them of the function and told them if they had problems not to hesitate to raise them with members.

- NZPA