Mardi gras lunacy decried

Ohakune Mountain Mardi Gras has become a night of absolute madness for young teens to get wasted on drugs and alcohol, Wanganui Regional St John operation manager Jimmy Seville says.
"Honestly, why it still goes ahead, I don't know. Kids come from all over New Zealand - rain, snow, hail, whatever - to drink too much and take drugs. It's pitiful," he told the Wanganui Chronicle.
The 2011 Mountain Mardi Gras is on Saturday, June 25, in Ohakune.
Mr Seville said as well as an army of St John volunteers going in to man a huge tent set up like a casualty department, Wanganui advanced paramedics would also be there. "We need to have specialist staff there, because you don't know how many kids are going to have seizures, severe hypothermia, or pass out and choke on their vomit ... it's very sad really."
It also appalled Mr Seville that even 6 and 7-year-olds were wandering about in the middle of it all. "It's not like there are actually any events. It's just that 'boom boom' type music that makes your heart thump, and that's about it," he said.
"There's a stream (the Mangawhero River) that runs through the middle of Ohakune, and some of these kids get so drunk they strip off and go in. We've had serious hypothermia cases. You can't believe it; you really can't."
Police reinforcements from Wanganui, Palmerston North and New Plymouth will be at the mardi gras with local Ruapehu police. Two booze buses from Palmerston North and New Plymouth will also be patrolling. Ohakune Senior Sergeant Mike Craig said police would clamp down fast on binge drinking or misusing alcohol at this year's Mardi Gras.
"These people may find themselves sitting the night out in a purpose-built detox area ... and it will be an extremely cold area at the back of the police station."
Despite a well-organised event last year, 50 of the 54 arrests were for breaches of a liquor ban in the area. Another 29 motorists were caught drink-driving, 11 heading home on the Sunday after the event still intoxicated.
The carport at the rear of the Ohakune Police Station this year would be transformed into a detox area where partygoers drinking to excess would be isolated and monitored, Mr Craig said. "It is a way of removing the chance of escalating problems and frees up police staff to focus on other issues." Police hoped the area would act as a deterrent to excessive drinking. "The choice between a fun, sociable evening with friends or time out in a converted carport on a freezing winter's night should be a no-brainer."
A liquor ban would be in place and police would act on breaches. Intoxicated people would not be allowed into the event. A road policing operation would also run from Thursday, June 23, and would continue during and after the event to help ensure people got to and from the event safely.
"Some of the partygoers last year, particularly young women, were highly vulnerable, placing themselves in dangerous situations through extreme intoxication. We want people to have fun, but we also want them to stay safe, to remember the event for good reasons and arrive back home in one piece. A bit of simple planning is all that is needed." Mr Craig said.
Tickets generally sell out before the event, as does accommodation, so police are advising visitors to book in advance and not go to Ohakune without suitable arrangements in place.
 
GENERAL ADVICE
- Plan your trip carefully.
- Don't drink and drive. Remember police also test for drug-driving.
- Arrange safe transport to and from the venue or nominate a sober driver.
- Lock vehicles and make sure all personal items and valuables are out of sight.
- Moderate your drinking. For every alcoholic drink have a soft drink or glass of water.
- Don't accept drinks from strangers.
- Keep all valuables close and out of sight; only take to the event what you really need to take.
- Look out for your friends. If they have had too much to drink make sure they get home safely.