Dozens of police officers, ambulance staff and firefighters rushed to the incident on Friday, which spread across a number of streets in Mt Albert as up to 100 people gathered.
Warning: This article contains distressing footage and descriptions of violence
Auckland councillors have condemned the “unacceptable” behaviour at a Mt Albert house party after new footage emerged of the chaos and violence.
Neighbours of the short-term rental on Phyllis St said the street filled with drunk “kids” screaming, crying andthrowing bottles on Friday.
Witnesses said up to 100 people gathered. Six young people were injured amid reports machetes were present and a car was driven at partygoers.
One neighbour said she saw a partygoer who appeared to have been stabbed seek refuge at a neighbour’s house across the road.
Albert-Eden-Puketāpapa ward councillor Julie Fairey watched the full video and said the footage gave a sense of the chaos and violence.
“I hope videos like this one help police and other agencies to identify those who need to be held accountable, and I encourage others who have evidence to get in touch with the police.”
On Friday night, dozens of police officers, ambulance staff and firefighters rushed to the incident, which spread across a number of streets in Mt Albert. Photo / Supplied
Fairey told the Herald that councillors were shocked by the street violence and thankful that emergency services attended.
“I’ve been heartened by the neighbours looking out for each other and showing concern for those hurt and threatened, including supporting people who were harmed,” she said.
Albert-Eden-Puketāpapa ward councillor and former Auckland mayor Christine Fletcher told RNZ the situation was completely unacceptable.
Fletcher said she had been contacted by two residents with young families, wondering what on earth had happened.
“We’re not living in a warzone and we do not need to see this type of behaviour. We need to get to the bottom of it and understand how this has been allowed to happen.”
Julie Fairey. Photo / Corey Fleming
Police investigations are continuing, with Detective Senior Sergeant Anthony Darvill saying the behaviour of some in attendance was clearly unacceptable.
He said that while police understood the community’s frustration and concern, the incident appeared to be isolated.
Darvill urged anyone with information, including cellphone footage, who had not yet spoken to police to come forward.
Fairey said she felt for Phyllis St residents who have been dealing with repeated “disruptive parties”.
She said the council’s role was limited because there were no legal tools to restrict the operation of short-term rental properties in residential areas, even when repeated bad behaviour occurs at a specific site.
Fairey said council staff who deal with noise complaints would not have been able to intervene in such an “unsafe situation”.
She said repeated breaches at this site appeared to have been made by different people, so cumulative fines or confiscating sound systems would not have been effective.
