Revellers 'build island' to avoid New Year's Eve drinking ban

A group of revellers have built a sand island in an estuary in an apparent bid to avoid a New Year's Eve drinking ban.

A photo of seven people sitting on an estuary sand island at low tide in Coromandel, on New Zealand's north island, was posted to local Facebook group by witness David Saunders, Stuff.co.nz reports.

The group appear to have set up a picnic table and drink cooler and are enjoying a few beverages while kayakers and paddleboarders pass them by.

Some of the revellers reportedly joked they were in "international waters" and therefore exempt from a public drinking ban, which carries a fine of NZ$250 (A$227).

All members reportedly remained on the island in Tairua estuary to watch the New Year's Eve fireworks, and the island could still be seen the following morning.

Rather than rebuke the group, local police commander Inspector John Kelly has in fact praised their "creative thinking".

"If I had known that (they'd built the island) I probably would have joined them," he told Stuff.co.nz.