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Rotorua’s Te Whakarewarewa Village has started closing its gates at night after an increase in non-residents, some reportedly armed, entering during the night.
Aukaha News reported this week the living Māori village had activated a “Pā Patrol” after a “significant increase in after-hours intrusions, some involving armed individuals”.
Residents saidthe village, while a major tourist attraction by day, was primarily a home, and the late-night intrusions had become a serious safety concern.
Rotorua police area commander Inspector Herby Ngawhika told the Rotorua Daily Post police were aware of incidents in the village in recent months.
“This includes people not from the area entering the village at all times of the night and using the facilities and the geothermal pools.
“This has caused some concern amongst the local villagers, including kaumātua and kuia.”
Ngawhika said police had been involved in initial discussions with the community to put in place a safety plan “to ensure the locals that reside in the area feel safe and protected”.
Rotorua’s Te Whakarewarewa Village. Photo / NZME
“The community are considering a number of options, and police are continuing to support the community where possible.”
Village resident Sharon Porter told Aukaha News it was a tourism village throughout the business day, Monday to Friday but it was not open 24/7.
Marina Moana Raimona-McGarvey said they had seen an increase of “undesirables coming up to our pā, especially late at night”.
“How would they like it if someone was walking in their backyard late at night, because that’s what it is, all our whānau here, that’s their backyard.”
The move has been described as a measure for safety, not exclusion, and for now, the gates are closed each night until the issue of outside intrusions was resolved, Aukaha News said.
