New Year's Celebration Southern Police District

1st January 2016

Police Say New Year's Celebrations Quiet

Southern Police say that 2016 was welcomed without any major incidents in the district's traditionally popular holiday destinations.

Overall, crowds in Queenstown and Wanaka were well behaved with only a few minor incidents and it was pleasing to see that most people were out enjoying themselves responsibly says Senior Sergeant Ian Temple of the Southern District Command Centre.

"The vast majority of people have taken on board the police's prevention messages - drinking alcohol responsibly and looking after their friends to ensure that everyone gets home safely from a good night out."

It was great that there was plenty of organised entertainment for visitors to popular holiday destinations and that public events were well-managed and controlled.

In Queenstown ten people were arrested for minor disorder and alcohol related offences, while in Wanaka five were arrested for similar offending.

New Year in Dunedin was a fairly low-key event with only seven people arrested for minor offences.

Other places in the district such as the Waitaki Lakes also celebrated the advent of the new year without incident.

Police continue to remind people of the need to drive carefully on the roads over the holiday period and to ensure that they don't mix drinking and driving, keep speed down, and avoid driving when tired.

"With the increased volume of traffic on the roads over the holiday period, please remember to be considerate of other road users and if you are driving, take responsibility to get your family and friends to their destination safely."

ENDS

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