Otago Lakes Police are expecting an increase in international drivers between now (January 29) and February 9, Wānaka Police Senior Sergeant Fiona (Fi) Roberts said.

Chinese New Year, the Burt Munro event and Waitangi Day all take place across this period.

“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,” she said.

Wānaka Police have responded to a handful of road incidents over the past week.

Police were called to a motor vehicle accident on Wānaka-Mt Aspiring Road last Monday (January 20) where it appeared the driver lost control on gravel.

“The vehicle left the road onto the grass verge and rolled onto its right hand side,” Fi said. “The upper part of this road is gravel and has corrugations. Police urge drivers to slow down and drive to the conditions.”

Police also responded to a “car v cyclist” on Wānaka-Mt Aspiring Road yesterday (Tuesday January 28) “where a cyclist appears to have sustained moderate injuries”. 

Enquiries are ongoing as to the nature of injuries and any likely charges, Fi said.

Fi said there were “minimal issues” at last weekend’s UIM Jetsprint World Championships.

However, a visiting carload arrived late on Sunday (January 26) and “started doing burnouts in the carpark”.

“The vehicle was impounded, the female driver is to appear in court and has been forbidden to drive. Another male in the vehicle was arrested for breach of bail.”

Police conducted alcohol checkpoints during the event and no one who was tested had an excess breath alcohol reading.

Last Saturday (January 25) police were called to Post Office Lane over a minor assault.

A 19-year-old male was arrested and subsequently trespassed, Fi said.

Police received two SAR (search and rescue) call-outs over the past week.

One from a person who was concerned their friend had not returned from Mt Iron, who was located “safe and well”; the other was an incident on the lake where a boat had capsized, but all passengers were found.

Fi asked drivers to take extra care when driving around schools, with school resuming shortly.

“Please slow down around our schools and expect the unexpected with distracted children using devices.”

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