KEY POINTS:
Out-of-towners attracted to Orientation Week in Hamilton were responsible for a central city brawl involving dozens, police say.
Senior Sergeant Greg Dunn of Hamilton Police said large crowds were in town for the notorious week - that normally sees excited students in the limelight for drunken behaviour.
But it was a group of young men, mainly from Kawerau in the eastern Bay of Plenty, in the midst of a brawl involving 50 to 60 people, with a crowd of about 400 people milling about, when Alexandra Street bars closed after 3am.
Mr Dunn said with the help of police dogs, officers established a "skirmish line" to clear the street and prevent further breaches of the peace.
The mob was herded towards Collingwood St where they broke up several groups heading towards Victoria St.
In all 13 people were arrested for fighting, disorderly behaviour, breaches of the peace and obstruction, Mr Dunn said.
Only one of those arrested was a student, the majority of the offenders taken into custody were from out of town including several young men from Kawerau who told police they were in town for 'O' Week.
Mr Dunn said another man was charged with drink-driving after driving his vehicle on to Collingwood St behind the police line.
Seeing the police, the driver swerved to the side of the road and crashed into a parked car.
Mr Dunn said it was disappointing 'O Week' events were being tarnished by those the events weren't intended for.
"This type of behaviour can not and will not be tolerated and we will come down hard on those involved in such incidents.
"If you want to avoid an uncomfortable night in custody then the solution is simple; 'Get into it, not out of it'," he said.
- NZPA
