Mount Mauganui north of Hull Road/Tweed Street is going to be dry this New Year, thanks to a decision by the city council to extend the normal holiday liquor ban area.

Councillors approved the extended area of the liquor ban in support of the police request this week.

The extended liquor ban area is yellow. Supplied photo.

The extended area will cover the park and ride area activated on New Year's Eve near Blake Park, where historically there have been problems.

It will also cover the extended temporary road closures that are planned as an outcome of the review on the night of NYE.

The dates outside of NYE will give police greater management over the New Year period.

The council bylaw bans the consumption of liquor in public places is prohibited for the period beginning December 26 and ending at 6am on January 6.

The council bylaw already gives police extra powers of search during the holiday period in the areas affected by the Liquor-Free Zones. Police may exercise the powers of immediate search, seizure and arrest.

Police say they had challenges in the wider area managing public disorder incidents in 2015. The proposed temporary liquor ban has been identified as a successful tool to enable the NZ Police to limit alcohol harm and manage public disorder in public places on the night of New Year's Eve and the holiday period.

The Liquor-Free and Vehicle-Free Zones in Public Places Bylaw 2013 sets out a permanent Liquor-Free Zone for Mount Maunganui North.

The Liquor ban is to be extended south, to Hull Road and Tweed Street over the timeframes of the existing Liquor-Free and Vehicle-Free Zones in the Public Places Bylaw from Boxing Day to Waitangi.

Councillors supported the proposal.

Matt Cowley recalled cycling along Wells Avenue to a New Year's Eve shindig and seeing people drinking on road side reserves.

'And there wasn't a think they could do about it,” says Matt.