Hello Wānaka. I hope you have had a good, if not wet, week.

The weather has certainly played a part in our workload over the past week with crashes again coming to the forefront mainly on the Crown Range.

The traffic along the Cardrona Valley Road is very heavy at times with the ski field being well attended. Unfortunately, this leads to some individuals deciding that their need to get too and from the mountain outweighs others safety. So, you may well have seen an increased presence from police in the mornings out that way. This is set to continue so you have been warned, keep your speed down and drive to the conditions please.

There was a rescue from a gully overlooking Glendhu Bay where a person had decided to come a different way down from Roys Peak, slipping and falling and becoming stranded on a rocky outcrop. Luckily his cries for help were heard from staff at the campground and the alarm raised. He was eventually winched from the rock by helicopter and flown to Dunstan Hospital with superficial injuries.

Alcohol has again played its part around town, either by way of drunken disorderly behaviour or drinking and driving. There was an incident at the Night and Day store, where a male became aggressive towards staff and other customers. We also had people being trespassed from some local bars for unacceptable behaviour while intoxicated.

So as always please keep an eye on your mates while you are out drinking, everyone wants to have a good time but know when to call it night.

There have been a few vehicles stopped, either randomly or at checkpoints, and drivers given penalties or fines for low level alcohol. It's off to court for two individuals with breath alcohol results of 806 and 935. These levels are unacceptable and place other road users at great risk, but despite raising this issue many times it seems some just don’t want to do better.

Remember the people doing this are your friends, family and workmates and they may kill your friends, family or workmates so don’t condone it, call these people out as peer pressure may help to change their behaviour and make our roads safer.

We are also concentrating on other roading behaviour as it has once again become a highlight over recent weeks. Speed and failing to stop at stop signs are a focus. Remember

there is a hint when you approach a stop sign, it says STOP. If your time is so valuable you can’t stop for a stop sign, might I suggest you leave home earlier to make the time, it may just prevent an accident or much worse.

We seem to be accumulating a vast inventory of found property. We have been able to reunite some with its rightful owners which is always pleasing.

At present we have a fleet of bicycles which have been handed in to us taking up way too much space at the back of the station which we would love to give back. So, if you have lost some property why not chance your arm and come up to see if we have it, it will only take a minute out of your day and may reacquaint you with some long-lost valuables.

We are also bracing ourselves for the influx of found property off the ski fields.

So, until next time, stay safe, drive courteously, and watch your alcohol intake.