Wānaka police have been dealing with road policing during the past week, as well as a search and rescue effort on Mt Aspiring.

Mt Aspiring rescue

On Sunday (January 19) a guided party of four activated their personal locator beacon on Mt Aspiring at 7.40pm.

Wānaka Police Senior Sergeant Fiona (Fi) Roberts said two people in the group fell and one person sustained a minor ankle injury. 

“The Wānaka LandSAR team were deployed. The party was located 30m below the North West Ridge and were helicoptered out safely.” 

Dangerous driving, drink driving

An incident of dangerous driving was witnessed and reported on the Cardrona Valley Road on Saturday (January 18).

“At approximately 5:45pm … a member of the public reported a vehicle travelling north on Cardrona Valley Road crossing over a median strip and double yellow lines to overtake three motor vehicles,” Fi said. 

“A 22-year-old female has been charged with dangerous driving and will be appearing in Queenstown District Court.”

Two cases of people driving with excess breath/blood alcohol (EBA) have been dealt with in the past week.

A 29-year-old male was intercepted on the Wānaka Luggate Highway on Sunday (January 19) just after midnight with an EBA result of 651. On Friday (January 17) a 40-year-old male was intercepted on Sir Tim Wallis Drive at 4.34pm with an EBA result of 498.

Busy roads expected

Otago Lakes Police are expecting an increase in international drivers between January 29 to February 9 as a result of Chinese New Year celebrations, the Burt Munro event, and Waitangi Day. 

“Police will have a strong focus on visiting drivers in the Southern area and will be supported by our road policing teams from Canterbury, Otago Lakes and Southland, with an aim of reducing road incidents and trauma between Mt Cook to Milford Sound,” Fi said.

Call 111 when you need an emergency response from police, fire or ambulance.

Call 105 to report things that don’t need urgent police assistance.

Call *555 to report road incidents that are urgent but not life-threatening.

To make an anonymous crime report contact Crime Stoppers.

PHOTO: Wānaka App