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Senior Sergeant Roger Small during a walk around Mangawhai recently.
As Mangawhai prepares for its annual summer visitor influx, police have confirmed there will be additional coverage to support the community during the peak holiday period.
Local estimates suggest the township’s usual population of around 7500 can surge to as many as 20,000 people, as families and visitors flock to the beaches and holiday homes.
Waitematā North Police area rural manager Senior Sergeant Roger Small says the goal is to help the community finish the year on a positive note, despite the challenges many have faced.
“It’s been a difficult year in terms of employment and cost of living,” Small says. “We want people to make good decisions, particularly on the roads and in the water, and to look out for one another.”
To support the influx, two additional officers will join the two already stationed in Mangawhai, working from Boxing Day through to about January 6. The extra staff will mainly cover twilight shifts, finishing at 2am, but extended to 3am on New Year’s Eve.
The Public Safety Unit will also be in the area, including at the Northern Bass music festival, and mobile Impairment Prevention Teams will conduct drug and alcohol checks.
“For obvious reasons, I can’t say exactly where they will be,” Small notes.
A key focus of the increased presence is managing teens aged 14 to 17, a group that has caused issues in previous summers in both Mangawhai and Omaha.
“We know they’re just out to have a bit of fun, but sometimes they’ve caused a bit of grief,” Small says. “Just a visible presence by police can keep the lid on things getting out of control. By engaging with the kids and building relationships, it works.”
Northern Bass’ shuttle service helps reduce problems among the 18 to 30 age group, he adds.
Small says the influence of social media continues to shape how young people gather.
“A lot of kids don’t use public platforms anymore. It’s often just a carload of ratbags from somewhere else that will cause the problem,” he says.
Despite the busy season, Mangawhai remains relatively quiet in terms of crime. However, a recent spike in burglaries at holiday homes has prompted reminders about security.
“Good security, CCTV cameras and alarms are the homeowners’ best deterrent,” Small says. “The CCTV cameras these days are an amazing tool to help us solve crimes as well.”
