Smashed bottles, vomit and faeces mar new $38m Auckland bridge

Smashed bottles, vomit, rubbish and faeces have littered a $38 million bridge since it was opened just 11 days ago, leading residents to take matters into their own hands.

Ngā Hau Māngere, a new pedestrian bridge linking Auckland’s Onehunga and Māngere, was opened on August 27 – but since then, there have been a number of complaints about late-night parties and fights.

The area has a history of attracting rowdy behaviour, which culminated in 2019 with a shooting that left two men injured.

A more noticeable police presence at the bridge following the shooting, then the subsequent building work and 2020 Covid-19 lockdown saw much of the bad behaviour disperse.

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But nearby resident Lucie Newport​ said every weekend since the bridge reopened, the area had been blighted by cars parking up with their music blaring through the night.

Fellow bridge user Ngatupuna Sila​ said she was “horrified” after her walking group was verbally abused by partiers last Sunday morning.

“There was a lot of drinking and some people throwing bottles on the road,” she said.

“We were horrified to see faeces littered along the path – it looked way too big to be from a dog.”

The area has a drinking ban and bollards that close access to parts of the bridge after 10pm, but residents want more to be done.

Newport said she and others were considering barricading access to the bridge with their cars this coming weekend in protest.

Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board chairperson Tauanu’u Nanai Nick Bakulich​ said the behaviour was “disappointing” and he was already working towards solutions.

“The bridge is a week old and a wonderful facility, so we don’t want it to become a hotspot,” Bakulich said.

He would be meeting with police and community stakeholders on Wednesday, where he hoped to float the idea of improving lighting and getting regular police patrols.

Manukau ward councillor Alf Filipaina​ a former police officer, said police would play an important role and needed to work with the community to get any issues under control.

A police spokesperson said police knew there were “sporadic issues involving anti-social behaviour” in the area.

“While there is no one particular group responsible, for a large part those involved currently are predominantly young people.”

They also encouraged people to report potential incidents or offending to police, so they could identify those involved and take action.