Crowds on Coromandel were generally well behaved, but parents need to be aware of where their children are, Waikato police say. (File photo) Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King
Waikato police are concerned by the number of parents who had no idea where their children were during last night's New Year's Eve festivities.
Inspector Mike Henwood, area commander for Waikato East, said behaviour was generally good at the Coromandel's holiday hotspots - but some parents and caregivers seemed to have a cavalier attitude about supplying their children with alcohol, just because it was New Year's Eve.
He said it was not uncommon for police to arrest a youth, or locate a highly intoxicated teen, only to phone the parents and find out they were a couple of hours' drive away or did not know where their child was.
Henwood said more than 2000 teenagers gathered at the traditional hotspot of Whangamata in the lead-up to midnight, but the crowd was generally well behaved.
The number of arrests and fines for liquor ban breaches were both down slightly on previous years. Most of the arrests were for fighting and disorderly behaviour.
A mostly positive New Year's Eve around the Coromandel was marred, however, by a large group of people fighting on Rolleston Street in Thames about 12.30am.
Henwood said one person reportedly threatened to bring a firearm to the fight, so armed police responded swiftly as a precaution before that could happen.
The man was taken into custody and the fight was dispersed. There were no serious injuries, he said.
Meanwhile, police in another summer holiday hotspot - Northland - said they dealt with only minor disorder and made few arrests.
Detective Inspector Rhys Johnston said there was some trouble in Paihia caused by excess alcohol consumption, but it was well down on previous years.
Most revellers were well behaved with just a few taken into custody "for cooling-off time".
Johnston said there also appeared to be fewer spectators at the midnight fireworks display than last year.
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