New Zealand Police Warn Facebook Parties: Alert Follows Drunken Brawls and Violence At A Party In Napier

The New Zealand police are investigating Facebook parties and their organisers after incidents of brawls, violence and destruction of property came to the fore. The matter assumed a new urgency with the police after a Napier event in early April went sour and spilled over to the streets with brawls, with the crowd indulging in violence and destruction of properties and cars.

Housing New Zealand is also mulling action against the tenant, who organised the Facebook party without notifying it. The party hoppers went berserk in Napier. It has been reported that more than 500 people thronged the party at Rutherford Road during the week end. Police had to be called after brawls broke out and residents' cars and properties were attacked.

Some 15 adults and five juveniles were arrested before the party was shut down at 1:30 am on Sunday. 3 News reports that it all started with an invitation-only party, advertised through Facebook. The news "spread like wildfire" and the crowd became unmanageable and got out of control. The adults and juveniles were booked for disorderly behaviour and attempted assault on police. The party organiser had asked attendees to pay an entry fee to cover the cost of the DJ.

Reports the Dominion Post, "the gathering at Rutherford Road, Marewa was organised by 20-year-old Thomas MacDonald and it was attended by 500 young people." Inspector Hirone Waretini said police had warned MacDonald and his associates about the potential for trouble. "We were alerted quite early on to the outbreak of trouble and we spent several hours trying to close it down and deal with a large crowd of very drunk and violent young people,” Waretini added.

According to police, MacDonald charged an entry fee and started vending alcohol after deploying security guards. Police noted that this gave the event a different colour and it ceased to be a private event. Serving alcohol requires license, besides the cover of health and safety regulations. The police are looking at the angle of breach in liquor laws, in terms of having used the premises for consumption of alcohol and in running an unlicensed event. The police official said it is a wake-up call for anyone planning to host such an event.

Waretini warned that organising a Facebook event will entail a person to take the burden of responsibility with all its consequences, both for himself and for the community. He noted that the Napier event, though advertised as an "invite only" event, soon attracted a huge crowd with hundreds of people rushing to the party.

(For feedback/comments, contact the writer at kalyanaussie@gmail.com)