A BUNCH of cheeky Kiwis have found a novel way to flout a public space drinking ban in New Zealand.

The determined group took matters into their own hands by building a small sandy island just off the North Island coast, as locals quipped that they were now free to drink in ‘international waters’.

2 Creating your own island is a novel way to flout a public drinking ban Credit: Facebook / David Saunders

The tiny sand island was built during low tide in the Tairua estuary on the Coromandel peninsula in the afternoon on New Year’s Eve, and was completed with a picnic table and a drinks cooler.

The creative bunch then sat out on their island into the night watching the midnight fireworks from their vantage point.

The tiny island was still intact the next morning.

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A ban on public drinking was put in place over the New Year period in Coromandel and those violating it faced fines of around £130 or even arrest.

However, authorities have taken the initiative in high spirits.

Local police commander John Kelly said: “That's creative thinking - if I had known [about it] I probably would have joined them”.

2 The tiny sandy haven was built just off the coast of New Zealand's north island Credit: Facebook / David Saunders

The images were circulated online after being posted on Tairua ChitChat, a local Facebook group, by David Saunders.

Speaking to the BBC, he said: "It was great to see some Kiwis having a bit of fun."

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Sandra Goudie, the mayor of Thames-Coromandel, was equally full of praise for the ingenious bunch.

She said: "That's the one thing I absolutely love about the Coromandel: the inventive nature of the people. It's about creativity; the legal reality is somewhat different.”

Similar drinking bans were in effect at major New Year’s Eve celebrations worldwide, including New York’s Times Square and the Brandenburg Gate in Germany.

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