Police Sergeant Wayne Hunter says the behaviour of drunk music festival goers running into traffic on Tauranga's highways was ''completely stupid''. Photo/file
Police Sergeant Wayne Hunter says the behaviour of drunk music festival goers running into traffic on Tauranga's highways was ''completely stupid''. Photo/file
Police have slammed the ''completely stupid'' behaviour of festival goers after they were forced to close stretches of major highways in fear of someone being seriously hurt or killed.
Bay Dreams punters jumped out in front of travelling taxis and cars, and walked along the Tauranga Eastern Link, SH29a andSH2 - crossing at dangerous spots and ignoring pedestrian barriers on Monday.
Sergeant Wayne Hunter said the behaviour of pedestrians going to and from the Baypark Stadium event was "completely stupid" and got to the point where police were forced to seal off one lane of State Highway 2 and close Maungatapu Bridge to traffic because of people on the road.
"We did that for about 10 minutes because of stupid people walking on that motorway [SH29]. There were just too many of them."
Mr Hunter was aware of groups of people also walking along the Tauranga Eastern Link.
That afternoon an 18-year-old, believed to be heading to Bay Dreams, was seriously injured after being hit by a car on SH2. He was discharged from Tauranga Hospital later that day.
Mr Hunter was surprised but grateful there were not more serious injuries.
"There were several near misses right in front of me. Obviously they would have had a few beers or they wouldn't do that if they were sober.''
The sell-out event catered for 18,000 people, with 4500 camping on site.
A sober driver picking up festival-goers said crowds of people were crossing the road whenever they could find a gap. Many were wearing dark clothes.
The woman, who would not be named, said it was ''terrifying''.
''I could barely see as it was with the heavy rain, the lighting around there wasn't great and people were darting across the road along that whole stretch of road.
"I didn't feel safe until I got well past Bayfair where there were less people around."
A number of people took to social media to complain about young people in the area walking on the road with alcohol in hand or vomiting or urinating on their property.
Festival-goers also gathered at Bayfair Shopping Centre and manager Steve Ellingford confirmed an ambulance was called for a young woman who had drunk too much.
Friends of the 20-year-old brought her to Bayfair where staff checked on her and believed she was too intoxicated to be put into a taxi. An ambulance was called instead to make sure she was medically checked and managed appropriately based on her condition, Mr Ellingford said.
Bay Dreams bus driver Peter Hosie defended organisers, saying there were a lot of drunks walking but that was their choice.
"Lack of self-control cannot be blamed on others," he said.
Gary Dawson, chief executive of Bay Venues which runs events at Baypark Stadium and ASB Arena, said the organisers had buses, taxis and shuttle buses operating and had done everything they could to provide safe transport to and from the event - but pedestrian access was an issue.
Thousands packed out Baypark Stadium for the Bay Dreams music festival at Baypark. Photo/George Novak
"It is something we hope the new link between Te Maunga and Bayfair roundabout will help. It is important to us. I'm confident it will be improved and we provide all sorts of transport to minimise the walkers.''
Mr Dawson and Tauranga City Council's Jaine Lovell-Gadd said the event was a success.
''Events such as Bay Dreams play a key role in showcasing our city locally, nationally and internationally. They help create opportunities for businesses and residents alike ... and helps create a vibrant and exciting city we can all be proud of,'' Mrs Lovell-Gadd said.
NZ Transport Agency regional highways manager Niclas Johansson said it was concerning a pedestrian was hit by a car and the agency would look closely at the findings of the police investigation to see if safety improvements could be made at the site.
The area was expected to undergo major redevelopment in the next few years as part of the Baypark to Bayfair Project, which will involve an over-ramp for Tauranga-bound traffic. The project also plans to remove the existing pedestrian tunnel at Bayfair but Mr Johansson said it was still working with interested parties and had not yet reached a conclusion.
"Whatever the outcome of this, we will ensure that the safety of pedestrians and cyclists is not compromised."
Bay Dreams organiser Pato Alvarez could not be reached yesterday.
