Media Statement

18 June 2013     

Alcohol Reform Changes at Risk by Auckland Council

Local Body Politicians in Manurewa are welcoming the implementation of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 which partially comes into force today , but they won’t be stopping their fight there.

Former MP for Manurewa  for 21 years George Hawkins who introduced to Parliament in 2008 the original legislation is welcoming these changes, but says they are at risk if Auckland Council pushes through a centralised licensing system for Auckland.

“My intention in giving local residents the ability to challenge licences in their areas was to put the decision making power with the people most affected by these licences.” Says Mr Hawkins.

“Proposals put by Auckland Council to the Manurewa Local Board will strip these hard won rights out of the communities hands and put them into the hands of a small group of District Licencing Committee Members which will be centrally organised by Auckland Council.

“This is not how I envisioned it to be. Alcohol licencing decisions should be made by local people who understand the local impact of the sale of liquor, sitting on localised Licencing committees.

Manurewa-Papakura Councillor Calum Penrose will be opposing any centralisation of alcohol licencing.

“Liquor licences must be approved by local people sitting on local panels. The cost to do it the local way is minimally higher than through a centralised system and empowers our communities to say no to more liquor licences throughout our communities.

“I recently supported residents in East Park in Papakura to stop a liquor store going up on the corner of Clevedon Road and Prictor Street. I will do the same to support residents in Manurewa to stop the further suburbanisation of off licence  alcohol outlets.

Manurewa Local Board Chair Angela Dalton says that there are far too many off licence liquor stores throughout Manurewa and the community wants to start removing them from the corner shops.  

“Why should people in Manurewa travel through to Auckland City to be heard in their objection to a liquor licence in their community? As far as I am concerned, local residents are the experts when it comes to understanding the impact of alcohol in their areas. I will oppose any ‘we know best’ proposals put forward by Auckland Council.

Manurewa Local Board Member Simeon Brown says young people are the ones who are too often hurt by the propagation of alcohol stores through our community. Mr Brown will be fighting to ensure the Local Alcohol Policy which Auckland Council is currently developing allows for local variation of alcohol policy throughout Auckland.

“Manurewa residents want restricted alcohol trading hours, buffer zones around sensitive sites such as schools and churches where no alcohol licences can be granted, and they want to see fewer liquor stores which can come about by a sinking lid policy.

The Manurewa Action Team supports local control of local alcohol policy. We are determined to ensure that local residents control policy settings that will control the sale and supply of alcohol.

END

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