Police say most of the party hot spots around New Zealand were largely trouble-free as thousands of people held New Year's celebrations. They credit council liquor bans and the recently introduced Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act.
Conor Dunlevey surveys the mess at his friend's house in Christchurch. Photo: RNZ
The most raucous area was Christchurch where police in riot gear closed down a house party of about 200 people when some revellers got out of hand, smashing all of the windows at the property.
Partygoer Conor Dunlevey, who was staying at the property in the suburb of Spreydon, says the house is a mess.
In the adventure capital, Queenstown, police made only 28 arrests. Senior Constable Chris Blackford says they were mostly for liquor ban breaches, disorderly and offensive behaviour and minor assault.
The long-time police officer in the resort town doesn't think behaviour is necessarily improving, but says police powers have.
In other parts of the country, police in Waikato made 130 alcohol-related arrests throughout the Coromandel Peninsula where the usual population has exploded from 15,000 to 100,000 for the holidays.
In Bay of Plenty, 80 arrests were made and there were 28 arrests in Nelson, Marlborough and the West Coast.
Police also made arrests in Wellington and Auckland but, overall, behaviour in the biggest cities was relatively good.
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