Auckland City Council - City Scene

Auckland City Council, the police, and the hospitality and restaurant sectors have developed a Downtown Accord to enhance and promote the area as a safe, vibrant and quality environment.

The goal of the Accord, for both residents and visitors, is to responsibly manage the sale and use of liquor and behaviour during the time of the America's Cup and the millennium celebrations.

The initiators of the Accord are now seeking to promote a partnership approach, and are inviting support from local cafe, restaurant and bar owners, together with other interested parties.

There will be a special 'launching ceremony' at 10am today, Monday August 23 at the NZ National Maritime Museum, where the mayor, Christine Fletcher, will officially launch the Accord and seek co-operation between all interested stakeholders.

The Accord, while promoting a mediation approach to deal with issues, will not replace the usual statutory processes of the law.

* Interested parties should call Barry Kaye on 815 5013 for further information.

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

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