Otaki TodayA recent Friday night burn-out closed Old State Highway 1 just north of Waikanae for more than half an hour, before some drivers headed into Ōtaki.
The “idiots with cars”, as Ōtaki MP Tim Costley called them, burnt rubber into the roadway around the corner of Greenhill Road and the old highway, about halfway between Waikanae and Peka Peka. A teenage onlooker was injured after being hit by a car.
No way through – an image obtained by Ōtaki Today shows there was no way traffic – including emergency services – could travel along Old SH1 during a burnout gathering.
Michael Moore, chair of the Waikanae Community Board, was an eyewitness.
He was getting off the train from Wellington at 10.52pm on Friday, February 28, when he saw “a substantial number of vehicles” heading north through Waikanae. He called the police at 10.57pm as he got in his car to go home.
“Driving north it was impossible to pass along the Old SH1 road,” he said. “At least 150 vehicles had congregated around the corner of Greenhill Road. At least one car arrived on a flatdeck trailer.”
He estimated the gathering attracted more than 200 participants and bystanders.
He told Ōtaki Today he saw a young man being hit by a vehicle that was burning its tyres.
“He hit the bitumen with his head. People rushed to him, carrying him to the roadside. That’s when I made a final call to police.”
He said he decided to turn around and drive back to Waikanae, then go through Peka Peka.
“It was difficult to get out of the area given the huge number of vehicles and people parked all over the road.”
Police confirmed an investigation was under way after they were called to the burn-out. Ambulance services advised them a man had been struck by a vehicle. Police said emergency services were obstructed from attending to the teen, and the vehicle believed to be involved fled the scene. The teen was finally taken to hospital.
The vehicles however, dispersed to several other locations. There were unconfirmed reports they did burn-outs later at Ōtaki.
Police said staff worked throughout the region to further disperse those continuing to cause disruption, and were “working to find out what happened and to identify those responsible”.
MP Tim Costley, who advocated for stronger police action after mass burn-outs last year, said he was sorry to hear someone had been injured, but was not surprised.
“These people are being idiots with cars and I have no time for this behaviour,” he said. “I”m glad police take it seriously, but it uses up their resources, which we don’t need.
“To anyone thiniing of going to watch this: don’t. These people aren’t professional drivers. They’re riding on luck and it is the bystanders who get hurt. If no one watches them a lot of this will disappear.”
Anyone with information that might help with enquiries is asked to call 105, quoting reference number P061770410. Information can also be shared anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
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