Six arrests when a motorcycle mob attacks Auckland, performing dangerous stunts

Police arrested six people and seized 10 motorcycles following a massive event in Auckland today.

Witnesses have said that there were around 60 motorcycles wheeling and burning along Tamaki Drive in eastern Auckland being escorted by police.

Stunt footage has also been captured along Auckland’s Southwest Highway.

Kay Lane, manager of Manukau Counties Highway Police, said police responded to several calls for service today regarding a large group of dirt bikes and other vehicles.

“More action is likely to be taken against those involved and we have a number of ongoing investigations and CCTV footage to review in connection with today’s event,” Lane said.

“These motorcyclists showed total disregard for other motorists and put themselves and others at risk.”

Aside from the six arrests, there have been a number of infractions issued on today’s mass trip.

“We would like to thank the public for their cooperation and patience and we want to assure the community that we do not tolerate offenses on our roads,” Lane said.

“We will continue to monitor group bike rides and the road infraction will be investigated and follow-up action will be taken.

“Our investigations are also continuing in relation to the Waitangi Day bike ride in terms of identifying and taking follow-up action against those identified as responsible for the infringement.”

It is not the first time that a large group of motorcyclists have taken to the streets of Auckland to perform daring stunts over a long weekend.

During the Waitangi weekend on February 6, crowds of motorcyclists were filmed wheelies and burns on the Waterview Tunnel, the Southern Highway and other roads.

Images have emerged of a cyclist, without a helmet or protective gear, pulling a wheelie on an all-terrain motorcycle for more than 12 minutes, some of them along the 4.2 km length of the Waterview Tunnel.

A separate video shows a group of helmetless cyclists, one of them shirtless and astride a quad bike, traveling en masse down Richardson Rd on Mt Roskill.

One person was arrested and charged after the Waitangi stunts over the weekend for alleged dangerous driving behavior.

At the time, Auckland Mayor Phil Goff condemned dangerous behavior on the city’s roads.

“This type of reckless and idiotic behavior puts the health and safety of the community at risk and those responsible must be held accountable,” Goff said.

“The police are following each and every lead from the public and I encourage anyone with information that can help identify those involved to report it by calling 105.”

National police spokesman Simeon Brown also condemned the group.

“These illegal motorcyclists have been spending time in East Auckland over the weekend terrorizing motorists and blocking intersections,” he said in February.