Tairua ChitChat!/FacebookA group of crafty and somewhat genius New Zealand nationals have built a sand island in the sea to avoid a ban on drinking in public places.
The group built the little island during low tide in the Tairua estuary on the Coromandel peninsula on Sunday afternoon, according to reports, before adding a picnic table and ice box for their drinks.
Locals joked the group were in ‘international waters’ and therefore exempt from the ban.
Tairua ChitChat!/FacebookThe group drank into the night on New Year’s Eve, watching the fireworks, reported New Zealand website stuff – and the construction was still intact on Monday morning.
The ban on public drinking is in force in Coromandel over the New Year period and anybody found violating the ban will face a fine of $250 (£130; US$180).
Authorities seemed to find the funny side to it all, with local police commander Inspector John Kelly saying:
That’s creative thinking – if I had known [about it] I probably would have joined them.
Thames-Coromandel Mayor, Sandra Goudie added:
That’s the one thing I absolutely love about the Coromandel: the inventive nature of the people. It’s about creativity, the legal reality is somewhat different.
Tairua ChitChat!/FacebookAccording to the New Zealand Herald, Whangamata community stalwart and Beach Hop founder, Noddy Watts, said it was ‘time for a change’ after numerous arrests over the New Year period for the past few years, adding:
They were dealing with drunk teens. That’s not what they are there for. That’s what parents are there for. The police and St John were getting frustrated with the result and said it has to change.
The images were posted in a local Facebook group called Tairua ChitChat, by David Saunders, who told the BBC:
It was great to see some Kiwis having a bit of fun.
Legends!
