The Alexandra Blossom Festival resulted in a quiet and well-managed weekend this year, thanks to increased security measures and the dedicated efforts of the Red Frogs crew.

Red Frogs, a support programme for young people aged 13 to 30, had representatives in Pioneer Park last Friday night cooking pancakes for those who had flocked to the area following the Alexandra Blossom Festival's Mardi Gras.

Representative Shannon Thomson said the Alexandra Blossom Festival committee first invited the organisation to help keep the park safe in 2019, and they’ve been coming back every year since.

The volunteer organisation’s mission is to help combat a culture in New Zealand that is largely dominated by alcohol and other substances, often leading to dangerous and life-altering behaviours for young people.

Alexandra Police confirmed it had become quite a tradition for underage drinkers to consume alcohol in Pioneer Park after the Mardi Gras, and extra security had been put in place to minimise that behaviour.

This year had been surprisingly quiet and by 10.30pm the Red Frogs crew were able to start packing up their tent.

Previous years had been a different story with some teenagers needing help sobering up and finding a way home right up until the early hours of the morning, with the Red Frogs on hand to offer food, water and a safe space until parents could be located.  

This year huge lighting towers had also been brought into each corner of the park to keep the area well lit, and security officers as well as Māori wardens were patrolling the area as part of the harm prevention strategies.

“We want to make it non-confrontational,” Shannon said.

Alexandra Police acting sergeant Graham Perkins said the festival got the thumbs up from police with few incidents reported.

“There was a bit of disorder, but it was minimal and sorted very quickly,” he said.

Between Alexandra and Cromwell there were 2141 vehicles stopped by police at checkpoints, and only three people were processed for drink driving - and all were under 400mcg.

Infringement notices were given to 25 drivers for various offences such as no seatbelts worn, and only four people were ticketed for drinking alcohol in a vehicle in a public place, while the liquor ban was in force.

Three vehicles were green stickered for being too low in suspension and unroadworthy.

Only one person was arrested for fighting in a public place on Friday night in Alexandra, and there was no trouble in Pioneer Park both evenings, he said.