Ten people have been arrested after police and spectators were injured following a boy racer event involving around 1000 people in Levin and Palmerston North overnight.
Boy racers and spectators – ranging in age from early teens to 50s – swarmed the intersection of Oxford St and Bath St at around 10.30pm yesterday.
The event was held just before the one-year anniversary of the 2024 ‘Levin Invasion’, where about 30 police officers were outnumbered by 200 anti-social road users, leaving officers injured.
This year, the boy racers did burnouts while hundreds of spectators crowded around the intersection, filming and watching.
“Fireworks, physical aggression, and a vehicle were all used against police who were attempting to break up the gathering,” Manawatū Area Prevention Manager Inspector Ash Gurney said.
“Two police officers received minor injuries from the fireworks that did not require hospitalisation.”
By 11pm, officers armed with riot shields took back control of the intersection, and most of the crowd ran away. The Police eagle helicopter was also hovering above.
Officers held their lines as glass bottles were being thrown at them, and some in vehicles continued to drive past and through them.
1News witnessed several arrests at the scene.
Five people were arrested and will appear in the Levin District Court in the coming days on disorderly behaviour and driving charges.
Among them is one person who was arrested for possession of a tomahawk.
Five bystanders struck by cars doing burnouts
Five people were struck by cars doing burnouts overnight. (Source: 1News)
The group then moved to the intersection of State Highway 57 and Tavistock Rd, where police “were again confronted with more unruly behaviour, including a number of burnouts”, Gurney said.
A bystander was struck by a car doing a burnout.
An ambulance attempting to get to the pedestrian to treat them was delayed by people and vehicles and blocking the roads, Gurney said, leading police to “employ tactical options – including deploying sponge rounds to disperse the crowd – to allow it through”.
Several police vehicles were damaged and had tyres slashed during this period, he said.
The crowd then moved to the intersection of SH56 and Tiakitahuna Rd, where “further burnouts and unsafe driving took place”.
Gurney said four bystanders – aged 16 to 20 years old – were hit by cars.
One female had both of her legs run over, he said.
The group were taken to Palmerston North Hospital for treatment for their injuries.
Gurney told 1News it was “particularly disturbing” to note that on each occasion, “people knew that there were people injured at those scenes”.
“The bystanders were filming the people who were injured… There was just no understanding or comprehension that people had been injured.
“We’re just lucky that we’re not dealing with death… We were fortunate last night. The people that were injured are very fortunate.”
One driver who struck the bystanders was tracked by the police Eagle helicopter.
An 18-year-old man was taken into custody “after a lengthy foot pursuit by officers”.
He is due to appear in the Levin District Court on Tuesday on a raft of serious charges.
A further four people were arrested “for a range of matters”, a police spokesperson told 1News.
Fire on Palmerston North intersection
An intersection in Palmerston North city was set alight after diesel was poured, as the group set up again around 2am.
The crowd – which had dwindled to an estimated 200 people – dispersed shortly after the diesel was set alight.
Over the next hour, “several other instances” of single vehicles doing skids and burnouts were identified by officers.
“The escalation in the level of violence committed against officers at these events is incredibly reckless and will not be tolerated,” Gurney said.
“The fact that members of the public were injured should send a strong warning to people intending to take part or observe – this is dangerous and stupid behaviour which can very easily result in multiple serious injuries or even death.
“On this occasion, given the size and unruly nature of the crowds involved, it is fortunate no other people were seriously hurt or worse, and that no Police officers were seriously injured.”
Gurney said staff will be deployed from Central District and Wellington to respond to “any potential further activity” this weekend.
‘This behaviour has no place in our communities’ – mayor
In a post to Facebook this morning, Horowhenua Mayor Bernie Wanden said he understood the “concern and disruption” that last night’s event had caused for the community.
“This behaviour has no place in our communities. I want to acknowledge the significant planning and swift response by police and emergency services to keep our people and our roads safe,” he said.
“Their work helped prevent a repeat of last year’s dangerous and unacceptable events.”
Just two weeks ago, the Government announced tougher penalties for boy racers and fleeing drivers.
Those changes were to be introduced in new legislation around mid-2025.
The new measures included destroying the vehicles of those who flee Police, street racers, intimidating convoys, and owners who fail to identify offending drivers.
Police would also get more powers to manage illegal vehicle gatherings by closing roads or public areas and issuing infringements.
The infringement fee for making excessive noise from or within a vehicle would increase from $50 to $300, and the court-ordered fine would increase from $1000 to $3000.
– Additional reporting by Abbey Wakefield