Editorial: We are a rowdy bunch

The festive and holiday season is the time we should be getting a bit noisy - having parties, BBQs, mates around for a few drinks and generally leering up.

Others might use the days off work for getting the garden tools out and hacking into those unwanted trees and shrubs.

But have we ever thought about the impact our actions have on our neighbours?

What if your neighbour has just had a baby and catching 45 minutes sleep every few hours is the only way of getting through the day and night? What if they are shift workers and can't sleep through the noise of your lawn mower cranking up at 10am?

In this article The Daily Post revealed that in Rotorua during one year, noise control officers working for the Rotorua District Council attended 3371 complaints.

That's more than nine callouts a day. We are a rowdy bunch.

Clayton Rd has once again been named Rotorua's noisiest street with the most callouts in one year - standing at 93. Maybe that isn't surprising considering it is a long road. But what about Miller St with 67 complaints in one year - that's more than one a week.

Everyone has the right to have excessive noise stopped or reduced at any time, and noise control officers work 24 hours a day, seven days a week. On the other hand, we can't be too pedantic. If the sound of the neighbour chopping wood every afternoon irks you, it's probably worth sucking it up as it doesn't last long.

So how do you know if you are being too noisy?

According to the council website, noise is any noise under human control which reasonably interferes with the peace, comfort and convenience of any person. A noise control officer will determine if the noise is excessive by assessing the effect the noise is having, taking into account the time of day, background noise and duration.

So when you plug in the leaf vacuum ready for a mammoth clean up or set up your stereo outside to dance the night away, have a think about those around you - we all have the right to peace and quiet.