Horowhenua Mayor Bernie Wanden has doubts that creating controlled spaces for so-called boy racers would work as a solution to dangerous road behaviour.
He said the idea “certainly has some merit” but “the reality is those people often want to do it not in a controlled space, rather in an uncontrolled space”.
Police issued around 900 fines and seized vehicles in road operations in multiple districts on the weekend.
Holding organised events in approved locations was a suggestion from a youth advocate on Breakfast this morning, saying this might stop racing occurring on public roads.
Kick Back director Aaron Hendry told Breakfast community leaders should have a conversation with boy racers about what having a designated space in the community could look like.
Clive Matthew-Wilson told Breakfast that impounding cars and dishing out fines for illegal street racing would only work on “low risk offenders”.
“How do we create space for you in our community where you can find belonging and you can still have your thrill and have your fun while we also respond to some of the concerns we have in the community?” the youth developer worker said.
“There is opportunity there and I think, sometimes, we paint young people out as villains or victims and it’s kind of this binary but actually our young people are thriving, intelligent, smart people and when we sit down and have some real conversations there’s opportunity to grow from there.”
Wanden said many attendees of recent illegal car racing incidents in his district weren’t locals.
He said some so-called boy racers were “transient” people that moved between districts based on where they understand there would be a racing event.
While the “controlled space” pitch had been made to Horowhenua District Council in the past by a car enthusiast, he said he doubted a lack of space was the issue for some involved.
“We need to understand why they want to do this in public… a lot of them, it’s disorderly behaviour,” he said.
Wanden said other challenges with the proposal included who would pay for creation and management of the racing track, how many tracks would be situated around the country and where the location would be as some residents would not the space to be near a residential area.
Significant community consultation would be required, he said, and he wouldn’t be planning a meeting with racers unless he was requested to by residents.
Wanden suggested tyre businesses and car companies should be part of conversations on finding solutions.
