Sexually explicit and racist comments as well as video of an apparent assault and rowdy crowds in Tauranga are being investigated after they were posted on a Facebook page purported to be a Mt Maunganui New Year's Eve page.
Inspector Karl Wright-St Clair, acting Area Commander, said police were looking into the site and had followed up on a post from a witness to an alleged assault on a young woman.
Wright-St Clair believes the mix of alcohol and young people was still the number one contributor to violence and disorder on New Year’s Eve in the area.
Also under investigation is a video posted to the page of two groups confronting each other and one man appearing and punching another young man in the head..
Police say pre-loading for events such as this is a major factor and this will be looked into in their investigation.
Inspector Wright-St Clair said: “Police have worked hard over the years together with Tauranga City Council and other community partners to make this event a family friendly one. The comments on the Facebook site will be part of the event debrief. “
If there are lessons to be learned from the information on the site, and from the community then this will be taken into account for next year’s planning.
We encourage anyone who was the victim of a crime or who witnessed any offending at the event to come forward and speak to Police."