Revellers’ behaviour satisfies police

Cows wandering on roads near Timaru, fleeing drivers and a small number of arrests have marked the start of 2018 across the South Island.

Canterbury police staff shared live tweets, Instagram and Facebook posts of their New Year’s Eve antics on what was a ‘‘relatively quiet’’ night across the South Island.

A spokeswoman from the hub of the action, the Canterbury District Command Centre, said the public had been ‘‘not too bad’’ this year.

‘‘There was the usual drunk and disorderly, but that’s about it. A few fireworks related jobs and that sort of thing.’’

Officers were called to shut down several rowdy parties across the city, including festivities in Riccarton involving about 200 people and reports of bottle throwing from a 40-strong group in St Albans. Across Canterbury, 30 arrests resulted in charges. Most were for disorder, she said.

A Christchurch City Councilrun event at Hagley Park drew a crowd of about 8000 revellers despite light rain falling. After a ‘‘kids midnight’’ countdown at 8.30pm, DJ Bailey Wesborn, Danger Baby and Headrush entertained the crowd before fireworks lit up the sky at midnight.

Wanaka police dealt with large crowds at the waterfront and at the Rhythm and Alps music festival but were ‘‘satisfied’’ with the behaviour of partygoers. Four arrests were made for minor offences, a police spokeswoman said.

A drink-driving checkpoint in Wanaka stopped 900 cars and caught two drink drivers.

The night for Canterbury police started with reports of cows on roads just out of Timaru. Officers found no cows but returned a few sheep to their paddock. In Christchurch, a fleeing driver in a people mover was quickly chased down when he ditched the vehicle and bolted on foot in Barrington.