Teen Riot in Whangamatā: $ 6,000 of Stolen Stock, Blackies Cafe Roof Damaged

The mayor of Thames Coromandel has criticized a group of rebellious teenagers who ran rampant in Whangamatā last night, sparking riots and causing carnage in the streets.

Twenty-two people were arrested throughout Whangamatā as a result of the incident and other “hot spots” of disorder in Coromandel City.

Mayor Sandra Goudie said they were nothing more than “self-indulgent brats” who had been drinking at home and emerged to cause trouble later when they were “bored.”

And it has emerged that about $ 6,000 worth of stock was stolen from a local café, and the Herald understands that there are fears that the roof is so damaged that it needs to be replaced.

Last night, several teenagers climbed onto the roof of Blackies Cafe, throwing bottles at the police who armed themselves with shields and batons.

The East Waikato area commander, Inspector Dean Anderson, said that groups in Whangamatā, particularly in the Williamson Park area, were initially peaceful last night, but there were “pockets of violent disorder fueled by alcohol.”

“After several people were injured by throwing bottles of alcohol into the gathering crowd, police began to disperse the main body of youths who had gathered around a local business within the park,” Anderson said.

“A large number of youths had climbed onto the roof of the building and started firing additional projectiles at the crowd and the police officers. The youths were eventually dispersed from the park area, leaving significant damage to the business,” he said .

Jane Phare, an Auckland woman who is on vacation in the area, said thousands of teenagers had gathered on the streets.

Some had climbed to the roof of the cafe, next to the Whangamatā Surf Club, about 200 meters from her friend’s house where she was staying.

“There was just a roar of drunken children out of control and no music,” Phare said.

“There was a huge crowd of drunk teenagers who had climbed onto the roof. They were throwing bottles at the police, there were bottles flying everywhere, crashing to the ground.

“The road was littered with broken glass and the police were trying to keep young people away from the collapsing bottles. The police were telling us to stay behind.

“The riot police with shields and batons arrived at the club and they all dispersed.”

Goudie spoke to Newstalk ZB about the incident this morning.

“It has been a real disappointment, because it has been so good for so long,” he said of the New Year in the area.

“First of all, I have to take my hat off to the police for the incredible work they do, they are our guys to turn to.

“This revolt has not only cost homeowners a lot of money, it has cost taxpayers a lot of money as well, so I’m really disappointed to see this start to show up again.”

Goudie said years ago that he can remember that the area was “like a war zone” with drunken teenagers after a “crackdown” that prevented minors from drinking in the streets and public places.

“They got completely out of control … I hate to think about what it was like last night when we have record numbers on the peninsula,” he said.

“Whangamatā has probably the most people there that has been seen in years … it would have been horrible to be a part of it or to be involved in it.

“They’re bored, drunk teenagers; they can’t drink on the streets like they used to or in public like they used to, so they drink at home and then go out and be self-indulgent. Brats.”

Goudie said it was possible that a teen event in the future could prevent similar behavior.

“That’s a good way to do it, I think, because it gives them something to focus on so they can put their energy into dancing and just hanging out with their peers and not causing the damage that they have done in this case,” he said. said.

“However, this is at odds with some of the locals who don’t want that kind of activity there.

“It’s a bit of judgment and part of that judgment was that they didn’t want to have anything on New Years Eve that would incite any kind of violent or aggressive behavior from these young people, which includes these free concerts or any kind of concert.

“Either way, it appears to be fraught with difficulties.”

A local businessman from Whangamatā blames the chaos last night on the lack of events for young people.

Denis Beaver used to own the Blackies Cafe and says the community voted against holding events in the park a few years ago.

He says that’s why the incident happened last night.