KEY POINTS:
A boozy four-day party planned for Mount Maunganui in December has the support of "thousands" of local teenagers, the organiser claims.
One of the two Auckland-based organisers, Brett MacLean, claims demand for the event "had gone mad" since publicity surrounding the event skyrocketed after a report in the Bay of Plenty Times.
The newspaper reported up to 1000 teenagers from across the North Island were expected to arrive in December for the "monster" party - sparking fears the event could get out of control.
Two Schoolies GradFest rages have been planned for New Zealand this year. The event at the Mount from December 10-13 will cater for North Island Year 13 students finishing high school.
Mr MacLean declined to say whether comments made by Tauranga police and the Tauranga City Council - who publicly labelled the event irresponsible - would deter him from ensuring it went ahead.
Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby said he would be doing everything in his power to see Schoolies did not go ahead in Mount Maunganui.
"We don't want it here and I can't be any more frank than that.
"They're coming here for a four-day binge and that's all it is, nothing less and nothing more.
"It undermines what so many agencies here in Tauranga are trying to do with youth and alcohol," he said.
Mr Crosby said after looking at the Schoolies website (www.schoolies.co.nz) he was convinced it was "an inappropriate event for New Zealand".
"I will do whatever I can to make sure it doesn't happen ... we don't want it here."
Mr MacLean said he and fellow Schoolies organiser Peter Ulmer hoped to be able to work through the issues with council and police.
Senior Sergeant Tania Kura, of Mount Maunganui police, said young people in Tauranga were not responsible drinkers.
"It's not an event our community needs and the risks are huge ... They could get hit walking out in front of a car, there's fighting ... and sexual assault."
Wanaka police and the Queenstown Lakes District Council are opposed to a similar event at Wanaka.
- BAY OF PLENTY TIMES
