Editorial: Pink is the new blue

Liam Fontaine dressed as a pink fairy outside Arkwright's Dairy in Napier where he tackled a would-be robber. He's pictured with dairy owner John Zhao. Photo Warren Buckland

It's a seriously endearing story with an equally entertaining photograph.

On Sunday the Bay's most unlikely crime-fighter materialised in the form of a chap wearing a pink crop top, pink minidress, fishnets and fairy wings.

Local lad Liam Fontaine made national headlines after he tackled a balaclava-wearing man who allegedly tried to rip-off a dairy in Hastings St, Napier.

A staff member chased the man from the store and across the road on to Marine Parade where two members of the public, including an in-pink Mr Fontaine, brought him to the ground and pinned him down.

An off-duty police officer in the area ran to their aid and the man was arrested.

It's where the thin-blue line met pink. Colour experts say when you mix the two you get lilac - obviously a type of anti-violence violet.

Senior Sergeant Kevin Stewart said while the pink uniform was "rather effective" and "popular with bystanders", police would stick to the blue.

Mr Fontaine had been participating in the seventh annual Tremain's Pink Fun Walk, organised by Hawke's Bay Breast Cancer Trust, to raise funds and awareness.

All mirth aside, the most encouraging part of this entertaining saga is that a dairy heist was thwarted by the actions of a colourful, concerned citizen.

The fact that the chap in the mask was bettered by a svelte chap in fairy wings and pink bunny ears, is welcome comic relief on an all too common, uncomic offence.