Street disorder forces taxis to reduce hours

By BRIDGET CARTER

A Northland taxi company is putting the brakes on a late-night pick-up service in Paihia because of drugs, alcohol and street disorder.

The Bay of Islands beach resort that is home to nearly 2000 people has long had a reputation as a hangout for young party-goers and revellers during the summer.

But Paihia Taxis owner Geoff Waterhouse says liquor bans in other towns have meant problems for the area in the past few months.

He feels his drivers are no longer safe transporting violent, drunk and drug-taking passengers who are being thrown out of Paihia bars and into jail.

Mr Waterhouse recently asked the Northland Regional Council for permission to pull back his service so the last weekend call-out was 2am instead of 4am.

"The jazz festival [August 8-10] was mayhem.

"One guy got hit and they had to send for an ambulance," he said.

"Someone taken from Kerikeri got thrown out of a bar and ended up in jail.

"It gets beyond a joke."

Northland's road policing manager, Inspector Rex Knight, supports the move to reduce the taxi hours.

He said the problem was reflected in the latest drink-driving statistics.

Last month, the district's traffic alcohol group caught four drink-drivers on a Friday night, and nine the next night.

Mr Knight said the rates were so appalling that the group went back to target the area again last week.

He said bars needed to think about host responsibility and people needed to find their own safe way home.

"The taxi people were very concerned - and fair enough, too," he said.

"We have just realised in the past two months that there is a problem up there and we're focusing on that."

Mr Waterhouse operates three taxis between Kawakawa and just north of Kerikeri during weekends.

He said the problem had worsened because his taxis were importing trouble from outside the area.

Other places such as Kaitaia had liquor bans in force, so people were choosing to travel to Paihia to socialise.

The Far North police area controller, Inspector Mike Rusbatch, said he was working with the Far North District Council to impose a liquor ban along Paihia's foreshore from Thursdays to Sundays.

Police rosters had been changed and an extra patrol car with two officers was on duty.

Extra checks were also being carried out inside bars in response to complaints from Paihia residents about disorder.

"We don't have rampant disorder," Mr Rusbatch said.

"But we do get pockets on Saturday and Sunday mornings."