Police have made a fresh appeal for help from the public and any footage.<\/p>\n
But violence came again that night, again involving a group of people, this time in the South Auckland suburb of Wiri.<\/p>\n
Police were called to Wallson Crescent to reports of several people fighting.<\/p>\n
Before Wednesday night, police told RNZ that New Year\u2019s Eve was a big night for officers across the country.<\/p>\n
In Auckland, huge crowds will flood the central city around the Sky Tower and around the Viaduct to see the fireworks set off at midnight.<\/p>\n
The five-minute display will have 3500 fireworks \u2013 or 500kg \u2013 launched from levels 55, 61 and 64 up to 240m above the ground.<\/p>\n
There were 14km of cables and wires to make it happen.<\/p>\n
\u201cA significant amount of planning goes into deployment of officers to areas where we\u2019re likely to see large numbers gathering and celebrating,\u201d a spokesperson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd this, of course, includes the Auckland CBD and K Rd area.\u201d<\/p>\n
Police said they would have sufficient resources to respond to any issues, but were urging everyone heading out to do so safely.<\/p>\n
\u201cNobody wants to wake up in a hospital or a police cell on New Year\u2019s Day,\u201d police told RNZ.<\/p>\n
Alf Filipaina, an Auckland councillor for the Manukau Ward, also pressed for people to be safe and keep the night free of violence.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are a lot of ways of getting rid of any stress that builds up during your party that you\u2019re having, and violence is not one of them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cViolence has no place at a family function or with friends, and even if you go out with friends and family to a bar, to a nightclub, the same thing, violence has no place anywhere around New Year and it has no place anywhere during the year,\u201d he told RNZ.<\/p>\n
\u201cMay 2026 bring what you want with you, and your family and friends,\u201d Filipaina said.<\/p>\n
Eagle helicopter redeployed to planned boy racer gatherings<\/p>\n
Police’s Eagle helicopter. Photo \/ Dean Purcell<\/p>\n
Police said they had a clear message for Gisborne and the wider Eastern District \u2013 reckless and anti-social behaviour on the roads would not be tolerated.<\/p>\n
They said they were aware of planned group gatherings.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe won\u2019t stand for it,\u201d Eastern District Commander Superintendent Jeanette Park said.<\/p>\n
Police had sent the Auckland-based Eagle helicopter<\/a> to give aerial support and rapid responses across the region.<\/p>\n \u201cAnyone intending to cause disruption or operate a vehicle in a dangerous or unsafe manner can expect a stern response from Police who have zero tolerance for dangerous driving,\u201d Police said.<\/p>\n They also cautioned that watching unlawful street racing only encouraged those doing it.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is also incredibly dangerous,\u201d Park said.<\/p>\n Strong police presence in Hawke\u2019s Bay<\/p>\n Police said they will have a strong presence in the traditional holiday hotspots across Hawke\u2019s Bay, including beaches, after the big day.<\/p>\n \u201cWe all have a responsibility to ensure our friends and loved ones are safe this summer, so keep an eye out and report any concerns you have,\u201d Area Commander Inspector Lincoln Sycamore said.<\/p>\n He said police would also be targeting unsafe drivers.<\/p>\n \u201cAlcohol continues to be a factor in a number of crashes across the region, and we will continue to set up checkpoints and breath test drivers,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Sycamore also warned that police beat teams will be doing routine patrols in retail areas \u201cright into the New Year\u201d.<\/p>\n St John\u2019s busiest night of the year<\/p>\n Tonight is the busiest night of the year for ambulance crews who at the same time have been grappling with increasing violence, aggression, threats, abuse and physical harm.<\/p>\n St John recently told RNZ that it was completely unacceptable.<\/p>\n Its vehicles had also been damaged.<\/p>\n \u201cWe empower our staff, if they feel unsafe, to leave the scene and get away from the scene,\u201d St John general manager for ambulance operations Stu Cockburn said.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re just there to help people at their time of need and certainly the last thing they need is to be verbally or physically abused.\u201d<\/p>\n