Kaeo residents have rallied in a show of solidarity for a store owner hit by a series of break-ins.
More than 120 people turned out for yesterday's rally outside Kaeo Four Square, organised by local woman Helen Foley to support Hitendra Patel and his staff. The entire population of Kaeo, according to census figures, is only 495.
The rally was prompted by the latest in a series of burglaries when a large plate-glass window at the front of the store was smashed about 2am on Saturday. With insurance premiums soaring and an excess of $1000 after each break-in, Mr Patel has been forced to replace the broken windows with plywood.
Mr Patel, who has owned the store for 12 years, said he was moved by the show of solidarity.
"I'm very happy with the support. It's positive for the Four Square and the community," he said.
Mr Patel downplayed the break-ins, saying it happened to businesses everywhere, but conceded it was a hassle to clean up broken glass and board up windows late at night. Yesterday's gathering may have been just what the town needed, he said.
Mrs Foley said she wanted to support Mr Patel, who supported the community by sponsoring sports teams and contributing to tangi and other events.
"Seeing another board going up in place of a window, I thought 'I've had a gutsful of this'. This is our community shop. I felt I had to do something - I can't scrag the people who did it, so I organised a rally of support for Hiten."
While the rally on its own would not solve the problem, it would show the offenders that the community was on the Four Square's side not theirs.
She called on whanau to take responsibility for their children - the offenders are thought to be youths - but also offered to support families having difficulties.
Whangaroa Health clinical manager Pat Millar said many people knew who was behind the break-ins but no one was fronting up.
Kaeo resident Nola Stuart said she did not want to have to travel to Kerikeri for shopping if the Four Square was forced to close. It was more than just a place to buy groceries, it provided jobs and acted as a community drop-in centre, she said. Other speakers included minister Robyn McPhail and community constable Richard Avery.
Four Square employee Mary Vermy said the main problem was bored youths, who had left school but had no jobs.
Too young to buy alcohol, they were breaking in and taking it without being held accountable.
Some adults were buying alcohol for them but the store was "cottoning on" to who they were.
A hui will be held from 9.30am on Tuesday, in Kaeo Community Hall.
Mrs Foley is collecting names of people prepared to help make Kaeo safer.
Meanwhile, Whangaroa College students are petitioning for a liquor ban in the town centre.