Senior Sergeant Fiona Roberts said in a statement, with young people having their first summer away from family she was expecting parents to send them off with a good safety talk and to remember that anyone under 18 needed to be supervised.
Authorities urged parents to be ‘‘proactive’’ during the holiday season as the region prepares for an annual surge in alcohol and drug misuse among minors.
Queenstown Lakes District Mayor Glyn Lewers, police, St John managers and youth support organisation Red Frogs held a joint media conference yesterday as part of their efforts to ensure minors stay safe during the typically hectic Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Local enforcement is expecting thousands of visitors over the next few weeks with the Rhythm and Alps Festival and the Shihad concert drawing the crowds.
The region has seen an increase in visiting minors over the last few years.
‘‘We are trying to educate the community and people that are visiting Wanaka’’ Mr Lewers said in his statement.
‘‘We want you here, please be part of the community but respect the community.’’
Mr Lewers said there would be more police in the area for everybody’s safety but there would be a focus on ensuring that no alcohol was distributed to minors.
‘‘What we critically need is the buy in from parents and from people coming into Wanaka,’’ Snr Sgt Roberts said.
She advised parents to come to Wanaka with their children instead of sending them unsupervised.
‘‘Parents — we’re the last people you’ll want to be hearing from this summer. But we will not hesitate to contact you anytime if we find your children in this situation.’’
She said in the past police had prosecuted parents and caregivers for supplying alcohol to unsupervised minors.
Otago lakes area commander Inspector Paula Enoka said over the past few years minors had been coming to the region with groups of friends and staying either in holiday homes or in Airbnbs which were often booked by a parent.
The issue with this was when they found minors in disoriented states due to serious alcohol misuse, there was no-one to care for them when they were taken to their accommodation, she said.
St John area operations manager for Central Otago Lakes David Baillie said New Year was ‘‘the busiest time of year’’ for ambulance staff.
‘‘We see multiple patients who are intoxicated or are suffering side effects from recreational drugs.’’
Red Frogs is also having an operation involving 35 volunteers located primarily along the lake fronts who will be serving pancakes and water and assisting anyone who might feel unwell or unsafe.
- Rawan Saadi
