Mount Maunganui residents are reporting a growing annoyance for noisy vehicles and engines revving loudly late at night on local streets, as well as feeling intimidated by street brawls and aggressive behaviour.

"There was a huge brawl last night [Friday January 6] on Maunganui Road. About 20 people, men and women involved. Police were called and arrived a few minutes after it had finished but two people looked like they were unconscious," says a Mount Maunganui resident.

"Police were alerted to an altercation reported to have involved 30 people at about 7pm on Friday 6 January outside a restaurant on Maunganui Road," says a police spokesperson.

"Police attended and the group gradually dispersed about 7.40pm."

The group fight spread onto the road on Friday night, January 6.

On Thursday January 5 another fight erupted between two people on Newton Street. Police were contacted and responded to the scene.

"Police were alerted to a brief altercation between two people on Newton Street in Mount Maunganui at about 3.20pm on Thursday 5 January," asys a police spokesperson.

" A weapon (not a firearm) was reported to be held by one of the people. One person left the scene in a vehicle shortly after the incident began while the other person left on foot."

Numerous cars revving engines late at night has also severely tested the patience of residents.

'There was a meet up of 150 at the end of Commons Avenue last week on Marine Parade,” says another Mount resident. 'There were about 70 cars and they blocked the road. We called police but no one showed up.”

Another resident is also expressing frustration at the driver behaviour and noise created late at night.

'On Thursday evening 29 December, there was an accident on Maunganui Road near the intersection with Pacific Ave, with what appeared to be a moped hit by a boy racer car,” says one Mount Maunganui resident.

'The situation at the Mount with these cars has gotten dire, and police barely even respond."

An accident on Maunganui Road on Thursday December 29 which a witness at the scene says appeared to be a moped hit by a boy racer car. Photo: Supplied.

Another frustrated Mount Maunganui resident has also noted the increase in loud motorcycles revving, and is feeling intimidated by the presence of gang members who he says now appear to be living permanently in the Mount area.

'A gang has moved into the apartments near us and police have been called by the tenants there so many times," says the resident.

'We were kept up last night so late with people doing burn outs - it's so frustrating that there is very little police presence , we only ever see police in the morning or weekdays, never on weekends."

Motorcycles being revved loudly on Mount Main Street has alarmed some Mount Maunganui locals. Photo: Supplied.

'It's definitely not the place I know and love so well over the past few months but at least with more people around here in summer there are more eyes on the streets.”

Police say their staff are reporting the majority of people attending the Mount area are well behaved.

'But we would like to reassure the public that the community's safety remains our priority and urge locals to report any unlawful activity,” says a police spokesperson.

Over the Christmas and New Year period Mount Maunganui has an influx of people, many from outside the area.

We want everyone to have a safe and enjoyable summer in the Bay, says police.

'We recognise the distress that anti-social behaviour and the issues noisy vehicles and poor driver behaviour can cause residents,” says a police spokesperson.

'It's important that people with concerns about this antisocial behaviour contact Police as soon as possible.”

Mount Mainstreet

Mount Main Street Chair, Kate Barry-Piceno, was asked to comment on whether Mount businesses have been affected.

"Given the large amount of visitors and local residents we have had at the Mount over summer, things have run really smoothly and Mount Main Street businesses are having a bumper summer," says Kate.

"There are the usual issues of shoplifting, graffiti, rubbish and disruptive drunken behaviour at the Mount, but we are actively trying to address these issues through close working relationships with Council and the Police.

"Although these issues are instigated by a few, unfortunately they can spoil the enjoyment of this paradise holiday destination for others, and can cause serious unsafe situations if drink driving."

Mount Mainstreet. Photo: Rosalie Liddle Crawford.

Kate encourages all Mount visitors and locals to act responsibly.

"Everyone should feel safe when they are here, enjoy Mount Maunganui and appreciate what a fantastic community and holiday destination it is," says Kate.

Pāpāmoa East lifeguard tower vandalised

On Monday night January 1, the Pāpāmoa East lifeguard tower was broken into and vandalised, with the door, chair and desk used for a bonfire on the sand. The inside of the tower had a strong smell of urine and faeces with sunscreen bottles sprayed around. The tower is now completely out of use.

The inside of the Pāpāmoa East lifeguard tower after being vandalised. Photo: Supplied.

Surf Lifesaving Eastern Region Manager Chaz Gibbons-Campbell says the tower was necessary for providing a shelter for lifeguards while operating a surf lifesaving patrol.

There are no security cameras or CTV in the area as it is a remote location about 300m south of Taylors Reserve. He asks the local community to remain vigilant.

Surf Lifesaving Eastern Region Manager Chaz Gibbons-Campbell. Photo: Ricky Wilson.

Mount Maunganui Lifeguard building vandalised

The Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service building was attacked in a "random fit of age” on Monday November 21 which left three broken windows and a $2500 insurance bill.

'We've invested in CCTV cameras to keep an eye on things when we're not there and on this occasion, it picked up someone smashing our windows using a rock,” says operations manager Ali Wieringa.

The vandal struck three glass panels, says Ali, one of which sent glass cascading all over the clubhouse floor.

The windows to the Mount Surf Lifeguard Service building were broken on Monday morning November 21, 2022. Photo: Supplied/SunLive.

'They simply walked off after it happened- there was no intention other than to damage the building," says Ali.

'If you see any suspicious activity please call Police,' says Chaz.

"If anything is happening call 111 and the next morning if you're walking past and it's already happened please call 105. The Police don't want to be dealing with this sort of thing.”

Mount Maunganui Community Patrol

Coordinators for the Mount Maunganui Community Patrol say they have very limited numbers of volunteers available to run their patrol, which acts as eyes and ears for police.

The patrol usually operates on Fridays and Saturdays. The team drive the streets keeping an eye out for suspicious activity and help prevent crime.

The car is decked out with lights and a police radio so sometimes they are the first on the scene. They don't leave the vehicle for safety reasons but relay information to police until they arrive.

Peter Fitzgerald and Kelvern Parker in the Mount Community Patrol vehicle in 2020. Photo: John Borren.

'As a patrol we can't do anything but we can radio police. If police are busy they have to prioritise life threatening situations first,” says a Mount Maunganui Community Patrol spokesperson.

'Most patrol members have families and other commitments, and people coming to stay for Christmas. And there's no guarantee that a public disturbance will happen on nights that we are out.”

Neighbourhood Support and Police

Police recently recovered nearly $4000 of stolen property after an eagle-eyed community member out walking their dog noticed the items stashed away in a Pāpāmoa reserve.

'We helped Police recover it all,” says Pāpāmoa Neighbourhood Support Co-ordinator Bruce Banks who was alerted by the dog walker.

Nearly $4000 of stolen property was recovered and returned to owners after a person walking their dog noticed the items stashed away in a Pāpāmoa reserve. Photo: Supplied.

'It amounted to two full patrol cars of stuff, mainly mowers, garden tools and power tools. Police have now reunited the rightful owners with their property.”

Bruce says if the person out walking with their dog had turned a blind eye thinking they'd do something about it the following day, it probably would have been too late.

'I think it was stashed ready for collection that night. I was there by 5pm and the Police were there by 5.30pm. They had to bring another car down because there was so much there.”

Bruce says it only took a few enquiries before Pāpāmoa Constable Adrian Oldham tracked down the owners.

Pāpāmoa Constable Adrian Oldham on duty at Bay Dreams 2023. Photo: Supplied.

Neighbourhood Support is a nationwide community-led movement that brings people and neighbourhoods together to create safe, resilient, and connected communities with a strong belief that a well-connected community helps to improve safety, resilience, and well-being for all.

To join a Neighbourhood Support group in your area or help sponsor and support the work of Neighbourhood Support, email Bruce Banks on nspapamoa@wbopns.org.nz

Antenno App

Tauranga City Council encourages the use of the Antenno mobile phone app as an easy-to-use platform to connect with Council.

Antenno makes it easy for anyone to submit feedback to Council or report issues such as a damaged footpath, abandoned car, graffiti, and rubbish bins spilling over. Photos of incidents can be uploaded direct to Council through the app which also records location, time and date.

To download the Antenno App click here

Anti-social behaviour – what to do

Police say if you witness anti-social behaviour or have issues with noisy vehicles or poor driver behaviour please call Police right away on 111 with as much detail as possible, including license plate numbers, descriptions of vehicles and people.

'And if you can take photographs or video while keeping yourself safe, this is of huge help to Police,” says a police spokesperson.

'If officers are not able to attend the area immediately, this detail is helpful for follow-up enquiries. These enquiries can and do result in enforcement action and is still incredibly helpful in terms of follow-up and helping inform our deployment decisions.”

Information about a crime after the fact can be provided to Police on 105.