Brawl reports overdone — Police

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 2, Issue 9, 31 July 1984, Page 4

Brawl reports overdone — Police

Newspaper reports of last Saturday night's violence in Ohakune were blown out of proportion, Police say. A brawl in the town's tavern led to one person hospitalised and another arrested, with four further arrests last week, but stories of running battles and gangs of locals ranging the streets were a bit much, Constable Marty Sutherland says. Constable Sutherland was twice called out, first to the initial disturbance and later to a related incident at the Navy Ski Lodge, but newspaper reports were exaggerated, he says. Constable Sutherland and and a colleague were joined by Ohakune traffic officer Graeme Cole and a civilian in attempting to break up fighting which began inside

the Ohakune Hotel. After the hotel was closed fights continued outside between some~ locals and a group thought to be soldiers from Waiouru. One man was hit over the head with a bottle and taken to hospital and another was arrested for assaulting a police officer. Police backup arrived from Taihape to help control the situation. Later in the night further trouble occurred at the Navy Ski Lodge which led to the arrest of three local men on Tuesday. Also on Tuesday a man appeared in the Taihape District Court charged with assault with intent to injure. He was remanded without plea to appear before the Ohakune District Court on 23 August.