Latest news with #BernieWanden
Scoop
2 days ago
- Scoop
Councils Condemn Overnight Disruption And Thank Police For Strong Response
Horowhenua District Council and Palmerston North City Council are thanking Police and emergency services for their strong, coordinated response to unlawful gatherings in the region overnight, and are condemning the dangerous behaviour that put the safety of residents at risk. The gatherings involved a large convoy of vehicles and over 1,000 individuals. This follows similar illegal activity in Levin last year that saw State Highway 1 barricaded and weapons reportedly present. This year, Police acted early — deploying teams including Riot Police, Armed Offenders Squad and the Eagle helicopter, implementing a visible and proactive presence across the region. While their efforts successfully prevented major disruption in Levin, the group dispersed north along Tavistock Road and State Highway 57, State Highway 56 and Palmerston North before coming back to Levin. One bystander was taken to hospital with moderate injuries after an incident on SH57, with Police reporting further incidents with other bystanders and vehicles on SH56. No police are reported to be injured despite, having a vehicle deliberately rammed, Police car tyres slashed and fireworks being aimed at officers. 10 arrests have been made so far, with more to come as Police investigate footage from the evening. Mayor Bernie Wanden said the behaviour witnessed last night is disgraceful. 'This activity isn't just reckless — it's dangerous. People have been hurt. Most of the individuals involved are not from Horowhenua, yet it's our community that bears the burden. I commend Police and emergency services for their quick and decisive actions. Their efforts have helped to keep our residents safe and prevent further harm.' Mayor Grant Smith says street racing is completely unacceptable. 'It was great to see the significant police presence in Horowhenua and Palmerston North overnight to help demonstrate that street racing is not welcome in our city or our wider region. While those involved may think it's just a bit of fun, it is intimidating behaviour for communities. In past events, these incidents have also passed on large costs to ratepayers to repair damaged roads and clean up broken glass and car parts. We understand from the Police that a number of youths were involved in what occurred last night. We encourage parents to chat to their young people about the dangers of street racing and encourage them to ask questions when their teens are going out late at night about their plans. I want to thank the Police for their efforts last night and hope those involved get the message that street racing is simply not welcome in our region' Both Councils are continuing to liaise with Police to monitor the situation and support any required responses. Our thoughts are also with those injured last night, and their loved ones.
RNZ News
2 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Police were ready for 'senseless and mindless' people on anniversary of Levin violence
Horowhenua District Mayor Bernie Wanden. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver [xlert]Hundreds of people and cars descended on Levin overnight, driving recklessly and disrupting the community - mayor Hundreds of people and cars descended on Levin overnight, driving recklessly and disrupting the community, the Horowhenua District Mayor says. Mayor Bernie Wanden said Friday night was the anniversary of an illegal gathering that turned violent a year ago , and there had been rumours a crowd would return. He said a large contingent turned up in Levin on Friday evening . "Estimated to be over 1000 people. It turned a little ugly, they deliberately tried to incite and taunt police, tried to provoke them by running into one of their vehicles, setting off fireworks and things like that," he said. "Police were able to break up that gathering, but they had been there for a while - you could hear it throughout the town. They then broke up and went out into different parts of the region and into Palmerston North, before returning to Levin in the early morning and finally breaking up about three o'clock. "Quite a long night for police and emergency people that had to deal with a number of senseless and mindless people who were just there to create as much mayhem as they could." Wanden said police were aware of the gathering and had prepared for it. "We had drones and the Eagle helicopter was deployed around the town, [police] were well supported by that back-up and their ability to be able to break up and then move accordingly was really helpful. "While there were no serious incidents, I do believe some bystanders had been injured through the night, which is really unfortunate, but fortunately no police injuries or anything like that." A video posted to social media showed police standing in formation with shields and body armour, across the highway at the central Queen Street and Oxford Street shops, with multiple sirens heard and many thick dark tyre skid marks seen in circles on the intersection in front of them. On 1 June, 2024, a gathering of more than 200 people and cars in Levin turned violent, with a crowd blocking the town's main street and officers reporting projectiles thrown at them. RNZ has approached police for comment. Earlier this month, the government announced stiffer punishments for those convicted of offences related to boy-racing, and for drivers who fail to stop for police. Those caught doing burnouts or taking part in unauthorised street racing or intimidating convoys faced vehicle destruction as a presumptive sentence, while fines for making excess noise from a vehicle were also raised. At the time of the announcement, Transport Minister Chris Bishop said New Zealanders were sick and tired of seeing "idiot drivers" put the community at risk. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
3 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Police out in force in Levin, one year on from boy racer conflict
Events a year ago this weekend turned violent, with confrontations between a large crowd and police in Levin. Photo: NZ Police / Supplied Levin residents say police and hoons are already out in force on the anniversary of earlier conflict. Last year, a gathering of more than 200 people and cars in Levin turned violent on Saturday 1 June, with a crowd blocking the town's main street, and officers reporting projectiles thrown at them. On Friday night, posts on Levin social media groups said at least one police helicopter was circling the town, with commenters reporting the helicopters were tracking boy racers. "Sounds are going hard now, from police sirens to choppers, to burn outs, to police chases ... quite uneasy for Levin locals," one person said on a local forum, shortly before 11pm, Friday. "[We] will see if this current government puts its 2025 boy racer legislation where it's mouth is," another commenter said. Stuff reported a large gathering of boy racers were expected in the town for King's Birthday Weekend, but were not wanted. Horowhenua District Mayor Bernie Wanden told Stuff the town has "had a gutsful", and did not want hoons coming back and causing "mayhem". Police were aware of the event and had plans and resources to respond, he said. Police did not immediately respond to RNZ's requests for comment. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
7 days ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Expressway changes 'force fed to the community'
Roadworks on the Ōtaki expressway in 2021. Photo: Supplied / NZTA / Mark Coote Two district councils in the Lower North Island are banding together against downgraded plans for an expressway through their districts. More than a decade after it was originally proposed, a revised design for the Ōtaki to North of Levin expressway has seen on-ramps and overbridges removed, and interchanges replaced by roundabouts. Council and community advocates from the Kāpiti and Horowhenua districts said the sudden change has left locals confused and appalled. Horowhenua Mayor Bernie Wanden said people were sold a well constructed expressway on par with the roads above and below the district. But he said scaling back the project would increase safety risks and divide communities along the stretch. "The community feels very short changed, shafted almost. Having spent many years agreeing to what this project looked like and - here we are at the 11th hour - now being told that it's going to change. You can imagine, the reaction has not been very good at all," Wanden said. Horowhenua Trust chair Antony Young had been advocating for the construction of the expressway for nearly eight years. He said the modifications to the project - only months out from work getting underway - had left locals in disbelief. "It's a strong, small, tight community that just feels helpless. These changes are just being rushed through and force fed to the community and we just have no option other than to accept it," Young said. NZTA project manager Glen Prince said the changes had been primarily driven by the coalition government's drive to save money. But he said 80 percent of the design remained intact and the revised plan would still be of significant benefit. "We believe that the solution that we can deliver here still delivers on those outcomes around safety, resilience, around travel time [and] reliability. Yes, we understand that there are some downsides but I think - on balance - we believe we've got it," Prince said. National MP for Ōtaki Tim Costley said while he supported the need to save money, the replacement of a full interchange with a roundabout near Levin's Tararua Rd would isolate the new Tara-Ika development - of 3500 homes - on the eastern side of the expressway. "There's meant to be a new school, a shopping centre - it's a whole new mini-town - and every single person that's driving, cycling or walking between there and Levin township has to now have to cross State Highway One through traffic, through this roundabout, I think that will just be a nightmare," Costley said. Kāpiti deputy mayor Lawrence Kirby said residents and the two councils had reluctantly agreed on tolling for the road on the back of the promises made by the NZ Transport Agency. He said those promises had now been broken. "You go to a restaurant, they're promising you a three course meal. 'This is the cost of it', 'yup, we'll order it'. Then they deliver a two course meal without desert. It's a rip-off. "We didn't like the idea of tolls in the first place. But that was the way it was to get the road we were promised. Now we're having to take the tolls and a second rate road," Kirby said. Kirby said Horowhenua and Kāpiti District council's were calling on residents to contact the NZTA and Transport Minister, Chris Bishop to make their feelings known about the changes. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Council Responds To Proposed Ō2NL Design Changes
Press Release – Horowhenua District Council Horowhenua District Council acknowledges proposed design changes to the Ōtaki to North of Levin Expressway (Ō2NL) announced by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi over the weekend. Council recognises that this project significantly affects many residents, landowners, and communities across Horowhenua. 'We understand that large infrastructure projects can evolve, but the proposed changes have left many in our community feeling blindsided,' says Horowhenua Mayor Bernie Wanden. 'This is not the design our community expected, particularly as it threatens to sever Manakau, a community that fought hard to prevent this very outcome.' 'While NZTA ultimately controls the design, Council is both disappointed and concerned. It is essential that community voices are heard and respected in decisions of this scale and impact.' Among the proposed changes are the removal of the planned Manakau vehicle overbridge and a redesign of the Tararua Road interchange to a roundabout configuration. 'These changes raise fundamental safety and accessibility concerns,' says Mayor Wanden. 'Removing the Manakau overbridge would force residents to make right-hand turns across a high-speed state highway — a situation that was never contemplated in the original design or consent and would be heightened by the tolling decision.' Mayor Wanden has written to the Minister of Transport, Hon Chris Bishop, and to NZTA Chair Simon Bridges, requesting an urgent review and additional funding to ensure the final expressway design delivers the safety, efficiency, and resilience that were promised. 'We've seen other Roads of National Significance receive additional investment to meet community needs. Ō2NL should be treated with the same level of commitment.' Council's Role Under the Resource Management Act (RMA) In addition to its leadership role, Horowhenua District Council is also a responsible planning authority and is bound by the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA). Chief Executive Monique Davidson says Council takes this statutory role seriously and will ensure the process is followed appropriately and without bias. We are currently awaiting detailed information from NZTA about the nature and scale of the effects of the proposed design changes. Once received, we will assess those changes in accordance with the RMA. 'We want to be clear with our community — when acting as a regulator, Council must base its decisions solely on planning evidence and legal criteria under the RMA,' Davidson said. Public Encouraged to Have Their Say Mayor Wanden is also encouraging residents to engage directly with NZTA and central government decision-makers. 'The nature of some of these changes means that if they are not in the scope of the project when construction starts in spring, then they are very unlikely to come back into the project. If you have concerns, make your voice heard. Write to the Minister, contact NZTA, contact your local MP. This is a moment where community feedback matters'. Council remains firmly committed to advocating for the best possible outcome for Horowhenua and ensuring the community's expectations are clearly represented.
