Police happy with New Year's Eve behaviour

Strategic work throughout the year helped Kiwis revellers enjoy a safe New Year's Eve, says a top Police boss.

Deputy Commissioner Mike Bush was on the beat with staff in Wellington last night.

"By and large, people enjoyed themselves in Wellington and around the country. It was business as usual at our traditional party hot-spots, with no major incidents related to the festivities," he says.

As usual, alcohol was at the root of most disorder but changes in the Police approach seem to be having a positive effect, he says.

Police officers are now working with licensees throughout the year to agree how bars should be run and how to keep people safe. "It's a joint approach that's been very successful. We hardly need to go into pubs now - the bar staff should take care of that while we take care of what happens on the streets."

On New Year's Eve itself, police officers were highly visible in party hotspots from early in the evening. "We don't over-police people and we're non-aggressive but we respond with urgency when needed. We find it's an approach that really helps to diffuse situations," he says.

Deputy Commissioner Bush is pleased messages about safe driving seem to be affecting drivers' behaviour.

"Most people are being responsible. The second lowest road toll since 1952 is great news - there's just that 1-2 percent that still need to get the message."

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On The 2013 Budget

Among Thursday’s main talking points:

We are apparently on track for a margin-of-error $75 million surplus, now in sight for 2014/15. But this sickly creature is hobbling out of the lab on the basis of all kinds of facilitative conjuring: such as trimming by $200 million the amount of new spending next time around.

With this strictly nominal surplus in sight, the 1984-ish justification for eternal austerity will have a news talisman: namely, getting Crown debt down to 20% of GDP by 2020. More>>

Budget Report, Lockup Audio & Images: Budget Day 2013 As always and especially after the managerial mishaps of the past few weeks and months, (e.g. Aaron Gilmore, the Mighty River Power share float, the GCSB mishaps) Budget Day 2013 was always going to be a pageant of reassurance... More>>

Budget 2013 Comment: Plain Sailing, But It's No America's Cup Pattrick Smellie: Compared to the last four budgets, this year's reflects an economy moving out of recession and into calmer waters... Yet if the fastest annual growth rate we can expect over the next two years is 3 percent - with the Christchurch rebuild in full swing - then you'd have to say New Zealand's underlying low-growth problem is far from fixed. More>>

Auckland Discord: Govt’s Power Hungry Housing Approach A Threat - Labour

Last week the Government said this, ‘The Government commits not to use any proposed or existing powers ... to override the council's planning and consenting processes’. But its housing Bill says this; ‘If an accord cannot be reached in an area of severe housing unaffordability, the Government can intervene by establishing special housing areas and issuing consents for developers’. More>>

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Housing accords legislation passes first reading - Legislation For Housing Accords, Land Supply - Housing package improves affordability, access
• Greens - Budget numbers show National’s failure on home affordability
• Auckland Chamber of Commerce - Budget 2013: Housing intervention needed
• Out-Link - Gareth Morgan: Response to housing problem limp-wristed
• Earlier, Pre-Budget - Auckland Accord announced

Extending Protest Ban, Relaxing Permit Rules: Govt Abuses Urgency To Extend Anadarko Amendment

The Government is trying to pass legislation under urgency which would make the Anadarko Amendment – which limits protest at sea – apply to an additional 1.7 million square kilometres, the Green Party said today. More>>

ALSO:

• Parliament Today - Parliament Resumes To Pass Budget Bills
• Labour - Government to extend protest ban
• Greenpeace NZ - Oil Companies Lacking ‘Expertise’ and ‘Financial Ability’ Set to Be Handed Drilling Permits
• 2010 image via: Pacific.Scoop - Media watcher gives NZ press nil score card for China oil spill coverage