Drivers Torture Residents with Celine Dion Songs

Car drivers armed with a playlist of songs of Celine Dion (left) have been plaguing residents of a small New Zealand city for months on end with loud, late-night “siren battles”. 

 

The Canadian singer’s melodies lose their charm when blared at high volume as late as 2:00 AM, say the sleepless residents of Porirua, just 20 minutes north of Wellington and home to 60,000 people.

 

Actually, siren battles have erupted in parts of New Zealand for at least seven years. 

 

Local media have reported on contestants – often people with family links to Pacific Island nations – using large siren-type speakers on cars and even bicycles to drown each other out with their powerful systems.

 

They “love Celine Dion”, Porirua Mayor Anita Baker (right) said. “They like anyone with a high pitch and great tone in their voice”.

 

In Porirua, people have had enough of hearing the power ballads, including “My Heart Will Go On” and “It’s All Coming Back To Me Now”. The contests start as early as 7:00 PM and can go on until as late as 2:00 AM. “It’s really loud music. They only play a quarter of the song, so it’s like having a turntable and it comes screeching out”, the mayor added.

 

Competing cars park with their engines running, blasting out music before moving to avoid police. 

 

Baker elaborated that the late-night music sessions started in November 2022 during the Rugby League World Cup when local fans celebrated Samoa’s run to the final. “We had a parade down here and they have just continued on. Summer is starting and they are back"

 

It appears there are no set nights when the high-decibel music will start up. It’s absolutely random and it can be any day of the week. 

 

Baker herself has attended organised siren battles. “I can see why they like them, they are a bit of fun. There were families watching and it finished at 10:00 PM, not one or two in the morning when people need to sleep". 

 

The mayor indicated she will meet with police to find a resolution.