KEY POINTS:
Police at traditional New Year hotspots have cracked down early, making scores of arrests.
More than 214 people have already been arrested for breaking the liquor ban at Mt Maunganui while Northland police have made a dozen arrests.
A liquor ban came into effect at Mt Maunganui last
Wednesday and runs until January 5 but has been widely ignored in the lead up to New Year's Eve celebrations.
Senior Sergeant Tania Kura said the number of police has been bolstered to cope with the influx of young people on New Year's Eve, but she is hoping for a trouble-free night.
Northland police said they were making arrests in the build-up to New Year to try to welcome families and keep out "louts".
Northland crime manager, Detective Inspector Mike Pannett, said 12 people had been arrested in Paihia since Friday - mainly for liquor ban breaches and disorderly behaviour.
A temporary holding cell has been erected in Paihia and police have increased their numbers at holiday areas in anticipation of the influx of celebrating holidaymakers.
Mr Pannett said the 12 arrests were "low key" but warned police would stringently enforce liquor bans in townships and popular holiday spots in the Far North.
"We certainly don't want to pre-empt things by saying things have been great but generally things have been very good. We just want to make sure there's good behaviour that's conducive to having families back in the area rather than louts."
Elsewhere around the country, teenagers have been pouring into Nelson and the surrounding area for the past few days, with many settling in at the Maitai Motor Camp, about 4km from central Nelson.
Further south, traditional hotspots Wanaka and Queenstown are also filling up fast.
The Southland Times reported that up to 3500 people were expected at the Lake Hawea Motor Inn for what would be one of the biggest pub gigs nationwide.
Meanwhile, police are calling for calm and patience on the roads, saying motorists travelling north should "certainly expect" delays.
The road toll for the holiday period reached eight last night after a man died after the car he was in went over a bank near Waverley, Taranaki.
In another incident, an 18-year-old man was taken to Whangarei Hospital with serious head injuries after the car he was travelling in and a truck collided head-on near Maungatapere about 4am yesterday.
Acting Sergeant Mike Greenwood of Whangarei Police said there had been extreme congestion and hold-ups were certain at Orewa, Wellsford, Ruakaka and north of Whangarei towards the Bay of Islands.
Travel times of up to three hours to Whangarei from Auckland were not uncommon.
"We urge motorists to drive to the conditions, be responsible and give plenty of time to get to where they want to go."
- JAMES IHAKA, NEWSTALK ZB, NZPA