NIGHTMARE NEIGHBOURS

Loud music, swearing, knives on night beat Elderly neighbours plugging their ears to keep out the thumping bass. Music and foul language at all hours. Knives pulled on noise control officers. That's a typical night when you have noisy neighbours.
Reporter Mike Dinsdale went to track down Whangareis noisiest streets and homes.
Noise annoys. So spare a thought for the residents of Kamo's Ford Ave and Onerahi's Commins Rd, who have the dubious honour of living next to the noisiest houses in Whangarei.
Noise complaints recorded by the Whangarei District Council are on the increase, with council contractor Environmental Northland clocking up 258 noise complaints in March, one of the worst months on record. In March 2006 there were just 128 complaints.
Noise control staff are called out to the same properties night after night. In the past six months, 19 Ford Ave, Kamo, and 19 Commins Rd, Onerahi, have been the subjects of 25 noise complaints each.
With both houses left empty in recent days, their neighbours may now be able look forward to a little peace.
Commins Rd neighbours are breathing a sigh of relief after the occupants of number 19 recently moved away. But for the poor folk at Ford Ave, despite things being a bit quieter in the past two weeks, its all been too much.
Ford Ave is home to many elderly residents and until about 18 months ago it was one of the quietest streets in the district, one elderly resident said.
The man, who did not want to be named, said from Thursday to Sunday number 19 was "party central".
"It's the loud music, the noisy cars and loads of drinking and causing trouble. The hangerson are really annoying. They hang around out the front, making more noise and they seem to smoke an awful lot of cigarettes that they seem to pass around to share among them," the resident said.
"The police are called there frequently and I feel really sorry for all the other neighbours who have to put up with it. Ford Ave used to be known for its tranquillity and quietness. Now they do burnouts and skids in the street and the noise is dreadful at times."
Another neighbour was hoping the noise problems would be over for good after a quiet couple of weekends at number 19, although there had been "a bit of loud music" yesterday morning.
"There's been a lot of noise from there though. The bass that goes to all hours and the absolutely foul language they use is dreadful," the elderly woman said.
The owner of 19 Ford Ave, Barbara Jobe, did not want to comment. The house had been occupied by her son, Tyler.
Environmental Northland manager Keith Thompson said many noise complaints involved repeat offenders.
"On a Saturday night we can get four or five complaints about noise from one house," he said.
It was also not uncommon for noisy parties to have a "sentry" on duty in the street to warn of the noise police approaching.
"One of the biggest problems is when a group of young people rent a house in an area that is mainly older people.
"Then we get complaints of noisy cars, stereos in cars and music. Bad language is a very common complaint," Mr Thompson said.
Language complaints usually came from areas dominated by older residents they were uncommon, for example, in parts of Onerahi or Raumanga.
He said the vast majority of complaints related to stereos but getting people to turn them down could be a dangerous business. "There are some houses that we dont go to alone. In Dallas Place, Otaika, we have had knives pulled on staff a number of times.
"Our vehicles get panel damage from offenders four or five times a year," Mr Thompson said.
* NOISY TOP 10
Whangarei's 10 noisiest streets and the number of complaints in six months: Raurimu Ave, Onerahi: 48 Otaika Rd: 41 Cresta Pl, Onerahi: 31 Dundas Rd, Riverside: 28 Ford Ave, Kamo: 25 Smeaton Dr, Otaika: 24 Anzac Rd, Morningside: 22 Hedley Pl, Raumanga: 20 Kamo Rd: 20 Maunu Rd: 20.