Auckland Mayor Phil Goff has told a packed public meeting on Monday night that more needs to be done to keep the Mangere Bridge community safe following a shooting in the suburb.
Early on Sunday morning, two people were injured in a shooting near the Old Mangere Bridge causeway, leaving one in a serious condition and another with moderate facial injuries.
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Emotions ran high at the public meeting, which was initially organised in 2018, as the community spoke of illegal drinking, constant noise, and disorder at all times of the day and night.
Mr Goff admitted not enough had been done to help the suburb struggling with unruly behaviour.
"When it gravitates from a problem of noise and illegal drinking to a situation where there was a shooting here, we know the situation has gone far too far," he told the crowd of hundreds.
He said that everyone living in the suburb had a right to live peacefully in their home and not have to worry about the disruptive behaviour of others.
"[You should be able to live] without having to worry about your kids walking down the causeway and having their feet slashed on the glass, without being concerned about your ability to move around your community without a feeling of fear."
Mr Goff said he wanted police to build on their relationship with the public, saying there was nothing better than an officer approaching a parked car where it should not be.
"Checking your registration, tipping your alcohol out and imposing a fine on you for drinking illegally in public, to change behaviour, and that is what I think all of us would like to see."
Lemauga Lydia Sosene, Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board chair, told The AM Show on Tuesday that the main problems begin after 9pm with people "rocking up and believing it is party central".
She said there are enough police in the area, but the issue was around enforcement.
"We, as a local board, have done a number of things, a liquour ban, alcohol signs [...] but they are just not deterring people not to break the law," she said.
"These are people who can afford alcohol, who can afford cars, who can afford expensive boom boxers."
Ms Sosene said it was frustrating that many in the public weren't listening.
"It has been a growing problem."
Newshub.
