‘I was really worried’: Local recounts Mt Albert party violence that sent four to hospital

Source: Radio New Zealand

Local residents had been growing frustrated by several out-of-control parties at two Mt Albert properties, before a violent incident last night left multiple people injured.

Police were called to Phyllis Street in the Auckland suburb shortly before 10pm after a fight broke out, and four people were taken to hospital.

St John said one person was in a serious condition, while three others were in a moderate condition.

Senior Sergeant John Nicol said police were still working to investigate and establish what occurred.

“Early information suggests that a vehicle was driven toward a group of partygoers, injuring two people – one with moderate injuries and one with minor injuries,” he said.

At least two other people were also moderately injured during the “wider disorder”.

Local Anna McKessar was putting her children to bed just before 10pm when a group of screaming teens came running towards her home.

“I was really worried about the young people that I could see and whether they were trying to get away, and whether they were safe.

“But I didn’t want to go out and put myself in danger or put my kids in danger. Once I heard the police arriving, I felt a little bit more comfortable that the young people who were out there were okay.”

Neighbours on the street are also reporting that partygoers were attacked with machetes.

The party was held at a property which has been listed on several short-stay accommodation platforms, McKessar said.

She said a few hundred people were gathered there before violence spilt out onto the road.

“They shouldn’t have been having this ruckus party.

“But I’m sure most of the kids that were there were just not thinking about the consequences, turning up to a party, just being classic teens. They didn’t come thinking all this would happen.

“They were all pretty freaked out, and I just feel really sad for them that that was what it turned into.

“You can have a big group of people, and only two or three need to come with ill intent to affect hundreds of lives.”

She said locals had been growing frustrated after several parties at the property and a property next door, which were owned by the same landlord.

“We had a spate of parties a couple of years ago where we had real problems. The house was rented for a night or two to some teenagers, and it had just turned into this massive thing. They trashed cars on the street, and neighbours’ fences, and it was terrible. It happened at least twice.

“It’s pretty upsetting for neighbours, and the person that owns those properties has never shown up, never apologised, and shown no remorse.”

Another Phyllis Street resident, who did not want to be named, said she was woken by the sounds of the “violent” altercation.

“There was so many people out there screaming and shouting at each other and they were kicking the gates and fences of random houses down Phyllis Street. It sounded like people were getting really hurt.”

Residents of a nearby property Michael and Susan Wells said they had also seen the gathering and heard the screams.

The number of partygoers swelled, when news of the fight spread, Michael Wells said.

“We noticed more cars piling in, the traffic was quite busy, busier than usual.”

Vehicles appeared to come from around the area, Susan Wells said.

“More cars coming down and doing burnouts at about 10, so people were still arriving at that point to try to check out what was happening and it looked like they wanted to join in”.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand