27 August 2004

Bans referred back to hearings panel

At last night’s Auckland City Council meeting, councillors voted to refer the recommendations for alcohol bans in eight suburban shopping areas and an extended central city ban back to the hearings panel for further consideration.

Chairperson of the Law and Order Committee, Councillor Noelene Raffills says, “this is obviously a very important issue for the people of Auckland. We have to get it right.”

The initial proposal included new alcohol bans for the shopping and business areas of Panmure, Avondale, Onehunga, Glen Innes and Otahuhu as well as Mission Bay beach from 10pm to 6am, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

The proposed bans for the Parnell and Newmarket shopping areas were from 10pm to 6am Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

It also included a recommendation to extend the central city alcohol ban covering a wider geographical area and 24/7 time frame.

Mrs Raffills says the general feeling amongst councillors was that the hours of the suburban bans should be consistent with that recommended for the central city.

The council will be seeking legal advice on how best it can achieve 24/7 bans in the suburbs.

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

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