Revelry, roads a safe double for Paihia

Northland police had cause for double celebration on New Year's Day.

Despite thousands of revellers flocking to Paihia, only a handful of people were arrested and last month's road toll was zero for the first time in memory.

In Paihia, only seven people were arrested despite what police described as a potentially riotous situation as more than 12,000 people celebrated the New Year.

Long traffic queues between a Haruru Falls concert venue and Paihia caused a big headache as the 10-minute drive turned into a two-hour crawl.

But Northland's zero road toll last month, traditionally one of the worst months for fatal crashes, ended the year on a positive note.

Northland's road toll last year was 27, the lowest since 1997 and a huge improvement on 2000, when 46 people died.

Senior Sergeant Alastair Ward said police had saturated Northland roads over the Christmas-New Year holiday and it had paid dividends.

"We can't remember when there was a fatal-free December," said Senior Sergeant Ward.

RoadSafe Northland co-ordinator Bill Rossiter said he was woken at 2.30 am on New Year's Day by a jubilant Senior Sergeant Ward, who told him the good news.

Mr Rossiter said an increase in road safety messages had paid off.

A greater police presence on Northland roads had also helped, he said.

- NZPA

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