NEWS RELEASE
14 DEC 2005

South Island hotelier: modified exhaust noise is becoming unbearable.

A leading South Island hotelier is backing urgent calls for the government to introduce tougher standards for noisy boy racer car exhausts.

Christchurch hotel manager Penny Clark says overseas guests are shocked that loud and deliberately disruptive car noise is tolerated in our most popular cities and resorts.

The Noise Off campaign this month drew attention to growing complaints from tourists who say they can’t get a decent night’s sleep in many inner city hotels.

Penny Clark says noisy exhausts are unnecessary and should be banned.

“Our hotel frequently receives complaints from customers who are bewildered by our government’s lack of action,” she says.

“We do what we can to accommodate our client’s concerns”.

Mrs Clark says the noise from convoys of boy racers can sometimes last all night. She says the noise affects many businesses and communities, and the level can sometime be unbearable.

“If you complain to the authorities about a noisy stereo on your neighbour’s property, they’ll come and close down the party. But unfortunately you can’t do that with an engine revving at the traffic lights.”

“The current legislation leaves the police powerless to act. What we need is a clear standard.”

Mrs Clark says boy racer car noise is intimidating and unsettling, especially for older people.

“If you have a constant noise – say the regular vibration of a cruise ship engine while you’re trying to sleep - the noise is continuous, and you can lull yourself to sleep.

“But the deafening noise from an exhaust pipe regularly punctuating a quiet city street, is something you can never adapt to – especially late at night.”

“The country has a real problem. And it is not just hoteliers and tourism. We should be looking after the welfare of all New Zealanders and doing something about it. “

One hotel manager near Christchurch Square revealed last week his business loses up to $25,000 a year because of late night noise from hoards of disruptive boy racers.

Noise Off

Noise Off is a charitable trust, campaigning to have an exhaust noise test introduced as part of the standard warrant of fitness test.

The Trust was establish in July this year, to tackle the nationwide epidemic of exhaust noise. New Zealand has the unenviable reputation of being a world leader in failing to act on the problem.

Noise Off has no political affiliation and is a non profit organisation.

In recent months, the Noise Off Website www.noiseoff.co.nz has attracted thousands of visits and hundreds of messages from exasperated business and homeowners.

ENDS

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