Police have also issued a challenge to the town, to see if a week could pass without a drink-driving offence.
Senior Sergeant Allan Grindell, of Wanaka, said there were a lot of drink-driving apprehensions in the Queenstown Lakes district, so it was a clear focus for police in the town.
"In recent times there seems to have been an increase and for our staff it is a particular focus, or you could even say our No1 focus right now."
While previously the majority of drivers were caught on Friday and Saturday nights, there were now more midweek offences, he said.
"I’m not sure we can put it down to one thing in particular but it’s something we have started to notice."
Snr Sgt Grindell said staff were investigating who the offenders were and where they were coming from.
"We looking into how to try to find out what the issues are, who’s getting involved, what occupations they have, nationalities, all that sort of stuff, so it’s too early for us to point the finger at one group."
As well as enforcement, police were also looking at solutions to the problem, he said.
"It can’t just all be enforcement because we know that doesn’t work."
Last week, three drivers in Wanaka were caught and processed for excess breath-alcohol, which was about the average, Snr Sgt Grindell said.
Constable Aubrey Martin said he was yet to write a column in Crimeline, a weekly police column published in Wanaka, without a drink-driving incident. He also issued a challenge to see if the town could go a week without a drink-driving offence.
Snr Sgt Grindell said he backed Const Martin’s call.
"We’d like to think with Const Martin’s challenge and our strong focus we don’t catch too many and our challenge has been accepted, but we will have to wait and see."
