Waimak Council locked gates at Peagsus Beach during Aurora

Hundreds of cars were parked up at Peagsus Beach to watch the Southern Lights and some tosser locked the gates, preventing people from leaving.

Apparently, it's protocol to lock the gates at 8pm during winter. Which I entirely disagree with, people have a right to park up and observe nature at all times of the year, without governments or councils dictating it.

The thing is, the gates weren't locked at 8pm or 8.30, people had came onto the beach to watch the lights and they got locked around 9.30... Hundreds of people had to wait, until fournately some lifeguard was able to unlock the gates.

But seriously why would you lock the gates when there is a natural phenomenon like this going on that Hundreds of people were parked up to see.