Tainui Kāwhia Incorporation’s Hano Ormsby is tired of cleaning up after boy racers at Tom French Grove.
Kāwhia Community Board has been told the gate to the road leading to Hot Water Beach cannot be locked at night but it can expect a new bobby on the town beat.
Board member Richard Harpur suggested forestry operator Tainui Kāwhia Incorporation be approached to lock the gate to prevent boy racers congregating at Tom French Grove.
The organisation’s Hano Ormsby has previously told The News he was tired of cleaning up after boy racers doing burnouts in the car park.
“Ask them to close the gate at 4 at night and open it at 6 in the morning,” Harpur said.
Ōtorohanga District Council regulatory and growth manager Tony Quickfall said the council had limited ability to close roads.
“Boy racers is not one of them,” he said.
“That’s a damn shame,” was Harpur’s response.
Quickfall said police were in the process of appointing a new officer to the village and encouraged the board to advocate for a greater police presence through the local commander.
After the meeting officer in charge of Ōtorohanga Police Station, Sergeant Heyden Nunn, said he was working with the council to support a collaborative approach in dealing with the issues at Kāwhia.
“There has been an officer appointed to the permanent position who will be starting in the role soon – dates still being organised) – but I hope the community will get behind him,” he said.
“I know it’s been disheartening without an officer over there, but hopefully this will be welcome news to locals. Once a permanent, stable presence is established in and around Kāwhia I’m confident the community will notice a positive impact.”
