Revelry at Wanaka upsets locals

Press, 9 January 1986, Page 1

Revelry at Wanaka upsets locals

PA Wanaka Wanaka has lost its status as a family holiday resort, and instead is getting a reputation as “the place to go to get plastered at New Year,” a local doctor says. Dr Dennis Pezaro, speaking at the Lakes County Council’s annual meeting with Wanaka ratepayers, called for local body action to stop mass drinking in the streets. He said the Tourist Hotel Corporation, which runs Wanaka’s only hotel, should be told that the town and its residents were not there to sustain the corporation’s profits. The latest New Year’s celebrations drew 3000 people to the streets near the hotel and down to the lake front, according to the police. Dr Pezaro said the place was full of aimless, unruly and unpleasant youngsters. “I have had many reports of 14 and 15-year-olds wandering around with cans of beer in their hands,” he said.

Dr Pezaro said that the annual ratepayers’ meeting last year recommended the

Lakes County Council take steps to ban drinking in the streets, along the lines of action taken by the Queenstown and Arrowtown borough councils. All the Lakes County had done was to refer the matter to the police. He felt it should have gone to the * courts if necessary, or to the THC. Another speaker said that the hotel was not the only source of trouble. Some drinkers brought their own carload of beer on to the lake front. The meeting decided to ask the County Council again to take action to stop excessive consumption of alcohol in public places. The chairman of the council’s Wanaka district committee, Cr Lloyd Dunn, said: “We share your concern.” Concern was also expressed about the mess left by revellers and some “informal” , campers on foreshore reserves. There was also criticism of “idiot jet boaters,” one of whom was said to have nearly killed two people at Eely point, a public swimming beach.