Bay of Plenty Police are on the hunt for a man who was filmed assaulting another reveller in Mount Maunganui on New Year's Eve.
Video of the assault was uploaded to the ‘Mt Maunganui New Year's 2016' Facebook page – this is the same pagewhich came under fire from police and the community for the flood of explicit comments posted to it.
Police are looking for a man who punched another man during the New Year festivities in Mount Maunganui. Photo: Facebook.
The page also features a multitude of claims relating to racism, sexual misconduct including underage sex and rape, plus gang violence.
The video shows a large crowd watching a standoff between two groups of young men near the centre of Mount Maunganui.
About 60 seconds into the clip, a man steps into view and blindsides another man, catching him off-guard.
At the time of writing, the video has since been shared 124 times.
Earlier this week Western Bay of Plenty acting area commander Inspector Karl Wright-St Clair said officers were now investigating the page and were following up on several posts.
This includes a post from a witness to an alleged assault on a young woman, but as of Monday, no incident fitting the described assault had been reported to police.
Karl is also encouraging anyone who was the victim of or witnessed any crime at the New Year's Eve event to come forward and speak to police.
People can contact Tauranga Police on 07 577 4300.
Alternatively, information can be left anonymously via the Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 line.
11 comments
Predators
Posted on 05-01-2016 12:13 | By SandraD
I have a female friend who was "stalked" by one animal down the Mount that night. She saw him and realized he was following her. Luckily she found a policeman to stand next to. When she did that she saw the stalker quickly scarpered in another direction. There were some creeps there that night that had only one thing on their minds.
third time
Posted on 05-01-2016 12:49 | By jed
Over the last 10 years or so, I've been to the Mt New years around 3 times. This latest one though, had a really ugly undercurrent and vibe. I took my kids home at 11pm as it felt really uncomfortable there.
Looks bad
Posted on 05-01-2016 14:02 | By Crash test dummies
maybe no booze but the attitudes and behavior generally was tense. Cant say that is good for families at all to enjoy the location and new year and so on. Seemed to be a bit of a gang factor in there, would think more to it that just the clip off FB, much more.
Gang members in proliferation
Posted on 05-01-2016 14:10 | By How about this view!
I am saddened to read the previous comments, as they are a clear indicator of the downfall of the "Good kiwi bloke". It seems that the "Need to belong" in some of our youth, is leading them into the open arms of our gang culture. There is no need to be a warrior in modern society, but we are telling some of our youth that this is what we expect of them. The resultant effect is violence, posturing and disrespect towards anyone that is not in "your" gang, group or Whanau. The days of being a "man" are numbered, we all need to be thugs and use force and violence if we can't get our way. A glance into the face of some motorists will show that aggression and contempt for others is more common than we like to admit.
name and shame
Posted on 05-01-2016 14:55 | By NZgirl
Ed Sheeran's angry half brother
The vibe
Posted on 05-01-2016 15:07 | By surfsup
the comments by jed are spot on, the vibe was terrible. In past years we had music that catered for everybody with good local bands playing music that old and young could sing along with, but not this year. And the undercurrent vive can be attributed to the subculture that follow not only the music on the main stage but the dj music on the beach stage. There was nothing that dare I say it a "white middle class family" could get into. Whoever was responsible for the music needs to take a good look in the mirror and reflect on the vibe created by the bands and dj's. Certainly was not family friendly music.
its him again
Posted on 05-01-2016 15:57 | By paul
Kim DOTCOM
Coward
Posted on 05-01-2016 16:18 | By Number eight
Thats all that thug is a gutless thug.Then to have Jaffa some how trying to justify that cowardly act is quiet frankly offensive.Surfsup then brings the old racist theory into it"white middle class family"crap,what about brown middle class families,why not just say there was nothing there for families,oh how stupid of me because i guess it was only the "brown folk"causing all the trouble.Every year untill 2025 cigaretes go up 10%,and yet the cause of all this trouble on new years eve,that devil water known as Alcohol continues on its merry way.As for that coward thug..one punch can kill,especially one the victim does not see comming
Sucker Punch
Posted on 05-01-2016 16:55 | By Uncle G
We don't yet know the reason why that man was sucker punched but anyone who delivers a sucker punch deserves to be labeled a coward.
Mindeless idiot.
Posted on 06-01-2016 08:32 | By monty1212
What a cowardly thug attacking from the side so the victim couldn't defend himself and then sidling off like a low life moron. Probably couldn't face up to a fair fight!
Number eight
Posted on 07-01-2016 11:39 | By Crash test dummies
When did I say I support somehow what this bunch of agro idiots were doing, including the hit shown?
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