Sergeant Peter Masters must have asked himself whether he had gone to police college to break up fights between grown men over parking spaces, she said.
One of the many callers claimed to have seen the incident, which occurred after the Polish-born Auckland man had driven around town looking in vain for a parking space.
His sister saw a space come free so stood in it to hold it for her brother, who was heading towards the newly vacated spot when a British-born Paihia man seized his chance to back into it.
The confrontation was initially between the woman and the 65-year-old, turning into a fist-fight when the Auckland man joined in.
Mr Masters said both parties were in the wrong and had been officially warned.
He urged motorists to "show a bit of patience" while Paihia was crowded with visitors and locals.
"There's a lot of people in town, and the heat and humidity does make people act in ways they usually wouldn't."
Summer parking became a hot topic in the Bay of Islands after the Far North District Council decided last year to scrap parking wardens.
Enforcement was reinstated in Kerikeri and Paihia after business owners objected, fearing local workers would park all day in spaces needed by visitors.
