Wānaka police have had a busy week, dealing with issues including a “serious incident” and an assault on a police officer.

Wānaka Police Senior Sergeant Fiona (Fi) Roberts said there was a heavy police presence on Niger Street on Monday morning (August 26). 

She said it was “a serious incident which was contained quickly”, but did not elaborate on the details.

Fi reassured the community that police are not looking for anyone in relation to the incident.

On Tuesday morning (August 27) a police officer was assaulted - bitten and spat at - while arresting a female.

“She has been charged with assault[ing] police and resisting arrest,” Fi said.

Police were called to a disorder incident at Post Office Lane on Ardmore Street in the early hours of Sunday (August 25).

The parties were separated prior to the police arriving.

Road policing

Fi said she will continue to “beat the drum” about road policing as impairment remains a key focus throughout the Otago Lakes area.

“Impairment contributes to crashes and accounts for a high proportion of charges,” she said.

“I make no apologies. If you are pulled over by police, expect to be breath tested. We will identify as many… impaired drivers as we can to remove them from our roads to reduce the risk of impairment related injury crashes.”

Fi said there were six EBAs (excess breath/blood alcohols) across the area during the past weekend, with the highest reading (1057 - more than four times the legal limit) taken from a tradie at 8.30pm on Friday (August 23) in central Wānaka.

Driving complaints continue to be reported across the area, including a report of a motorhome overtaking on the Lindis Pass and forcing its way back into traffic, and vehicles travelling slowly over the Crown Range. In the same area a driver was stopped travelling at 156kph.

Police are out there educating drivers about etiquette, Fi said. Not all engagement with police results in infringements, she added.

Fi said over the past year there have been more than 3,000 driver related complaints reported to police in this area, with the most reported complaints being about weaving within and across the centre line, dangerous passing manoeuvres, and inconsistent speed or slow driving.

Police continue to have a presence at ski field access roads to encourage drivers to adhere to conditions, she said.

In addition to local staff, Operation Hannah will be back in the area next week.

Operation Hannah is a targeted operation with a focus on preventing harm on New Zealand roads in and around South Island ski fields by influencing safe driving behaviour, and improving vehicle standards and operator compliance of passenger service vehicles.

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