Frontline emergency service personnel have been facing abuse during New Year's Eve celebrations around the country
Frontline emergency service personnel have been facing abuse during New Year's Eve celebrations around the country
1 January 2026
Most people have been well-behaved, with only about 40 arrests, mostly in Bay of Plenty and Whangamata.
However, two people were arrested for assaulting Police, in Wanaka and Dunedin.
Hato Hone St John's, Dan Ohs , says ambulance crews also faced significant abuse from a person they were trying to help in central Auckland.
He says crews are there to help, but they will leave the scene if they're getting abused or assaulted, which is what happened in that case.
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