Record numbers at Mardis Gras but few arrests

Despite thousands of revellers packing into Ohakune for the 2009 Ruapehu Mountain Mardis Gras police are pleased to report a very peaceful weekend with only 11 arrests.

The annual festival was full to brimming with thousands of tickets sold out and hundreds more people queuing for their chance to be a part of the festival.

The 11 arrests were mainly disorder and alcohol related. Of note, three young men will appear in the Ohakune District Court on wilful damage charges after throwing snowballs from the back of a ute travelling down the mountain road. Two vehicles travelling in the opposite direction had their windscreens broken, one of which was an ambulance. Further charges of endangering transport are likely.

Four of the 11 arrests were for detox or breaching the peace with no charges pending.

Sadly there were some motorists who blatantly ignored the roles around drink driving including one pregnant woman.

Officers from the Traffic Alcohol Group in New Plymouth and Palmerston North stopped 2695 cars at checkpoints in the Ohakune area between Friday and Saturday night. A total of 21 people were put through the bus. Only three blew under the limit.

The highest reading came from a 21-year-old Auckland man who had driven from an Ohakune address to look for his girlfriend. He blew 1040, the legal limit for someone over 20 being 400.

Also recording high readings were:

• A 26-year-old woman from Wanganui driving from the Mardi Gras to park up somewhere and sleep in her car blew 914;
• A 34-year-old woman from Ohakune, who was five months pregnant blew 553;
• An 18-year-old man intending to drive to Raetahi blew 540, the limit being 150 for anyone under the age of 20. He had been drawn to police attention due to the large grass plant on the roof of his car which he had failed to notice when he had got in an started driving;
• An 18-year-old man intending to drive home to Wellington blew 318, the limit for someone under 20 being 150. He had his keys taken from him.

Sergeant Steve Michael of Ohakune Police said: "It was good to see a record crowd attend this event with very few problems. The behaviour has changed somewhat from previous years and the number of, or rather lack of, reported incidents reflects that. The organisation of the event and support of the services involved was what made it successful."