Whangamatā riot: 54-year-old local man accused of inciting disorderly behavior on live broadcast

Whangamatā police today charged a 54-year-old local man with inciting disorderly behavior after last night’s riots that damaged a local cafe.

A police spokeswoman said the arrest was related to the live broadcast of the riot involving the Blackies Cafe on social media.

He allegedly captured the man inciting disorder in what was already a “challenging” police environment.

The man will appear later in Waihi District Court regarding this charge.

“Police are asking people to consider the impact that incitement to disorder on social media can have on public order and the safety of our communities,” the spokeswoman said.

Twenty-three people have already been arrested throughout Whangamatā as a result of the incident and other outbreaks of disorder in Coromandel City.

At least a dozen people climbed onto the roof of Blackies Cafe as the hordes below them cheered and whistled above the rumbling of the music.

The Herald understands that there is a fear that the roof is so damaged that it will have to be replaced.

Some of those who had climbed onto the roof also threw bottles at the police.

Thames-Coromandel Mayor Sandra Goudie previously told Newstalk ZB that the youths involved were nothing more than “self-indulgent brats” who had been drinking at home and emerged to cause trouble later when they were “bored.”

Goudie said it is possible that an event for teens 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 …

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

It became a decision and part of that was that they did not want to have anything that would incite violent or aggressive behavior from these young people, he said.

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