He said police had identified vehicles of interest.
“Even if you’re unsure, we encourage you to come forward so the matter can be assessed.”
Anyone with information could contact the police by calling 105 and quoting file number 260622/3555.
A resident near the intersection said it was a hotspot for boy racers.
The neighbour, who did not want to be named, believed its popularity was due to being rural, and its three getaway points.
“It’s very open so they can see who is coming, who is not.”
They said drivers came from “all over” and the activity was more common on weekend nights, from 8pm to the middle of the morning.
“You just hear squealing tyres, pops, bangs; you wouldn’t know how many cars are out there unless you go out there.
“We call the cops, but by the time they come out here, they are gone.
“They all scarper in different directions like little rats.”
The neighbour said occasionally, burst tyres were left behind.
“They just see it as harmless fun; ‘we are not hurting anyone’, but it’s just the noise and the mess.
“The roads will be freshly marked, and then they are all black and gone.”
In May 2024, Hawke’s Bay Today reported a resident, Ernie Christison, had seen a “young woman standing in the middle of the intersection while blokes did burnouts in circles around her”.
Williamson said police asked anyone who witnessed anti-social road user behaviour to call 111 immediately, and not confront anyone.
“If it is safe to do so, capturing images or video may assist police.
“If you see unlawful driving, large convoys, or gatherings, please get in touch with us.”
Government passes boy racer bill
On Tuesday, the Government announced the Antisocial Road Use Legislation Amendment Bill had passed through Parliament.
Transport Minister Chris Bishop said the consequences for anti-social driving behaviour had not been strong enough to deter “appalling behaviour”.
“Communities across New Zealand have been forced to put up with illegal street racing, burnouts, fleeing drivers, intimidating convoys, disorderly dirt bike gatherings and siren battles for far too long.
“These activities put participants, bystanders and Police at risk, disrupt neighbourhoods, and create fear and frustration for law-abiding Kiwis.”
Police Minister Mark Mitchell said the new law gave police stronger tools to respond to anti-social road use.
New offences and penalties include establishing a presumptive sentence of vehicle destruction or forfeiture for those who flee police, street racers, intimidating convoys, and owners who fail to identify offending drivers.
The law also gave the police more powers to manage antisocial vehicle gatherings by closing roads or public areas and issuing infringements.
There was also an increase in the infringement fee for making excessive noise from or within a vehicle from $50 to $300.
Most changes will come into effect in six months’ time.
Wairarapa MP Mike Butterick said he heard from constituents frequently on this issue.
“They’ve had a gutsful of the bad behaviour.
“I welcome the changes in the law. The choice is simple, behave or face the consequences.”
Michaela Gower joined Hawke’s Bay Today in 2023 and is based out of the Hastings newsroom. She covers Dannevirke and Hawke’s Bay news and loves sharing stories about farming and rural communities.