MEDIA STATEMENT

Keep our kids safe from alcohol says Rangi McLean

17 June 2014

Tāmaki Makaurau candidate, Rangi McLean, has spoken out about the decision of the Auckland District Licensing Committee to over-ride the voices of the community and allow a liquor store to open directly opposite Southern Cross Campus in Mangere.

"The Māori Party has consistently advocated the case to protect the school environment against what we describe as social hazards" said Mr McLean.

"Our Co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell brought amendments to the Alcohol Reform Bill which sought to establish promixity to a school as a determining factor in whether to issue or renew a liquor license. Unfortunately our amendments were not agreed to by the National Government, but we will continue to raise the issues as we must".

"We believe that there is absolutely no place for a liquor outlet to be so prominent in the immediate vicinity of a school.

Our other co-leader, Tariana Turia, took up the cause when a feisty little school in Cannons Creek, Russell School, took on the Liquor Licensing Authority - and won. The Russell School community had been up in arms about the impact of alcohol abuse in their school environment - empty bottles were frequently found littering their grounds, some with dregs of alcohol still remaining".

"The community took on the fight in Porirua - and I want to say to our community in South Auckland that our fight isn't over by any means".

"The Southern Cross Campus includes within it, one of the top kura in our rohe, Te Kura Maori o Nga Tapuwae. Our tamariki deserve to go to school without alcohol hazards being in their way.

"Our community has worked so hard to keep social hazards out of our suburbs - the last thing we need is another liquor joint peddling its wares outside a site of learning for our young leaders".

"I support the work that the Māngere-Otahuhu Local Board, the Māngere East Family Centre and the Southern Cross Campus have done to keep their communities safe. I want to say to them, as candidate for Tāmaki Makaurau, that the Māori Party stands beside them in their campaign to keep liquor outlets out of the line of sight of our children who have a right to attend school without facing the gauntlet of alcohol advertising. I will be joining them in their protest this Saturday, and supporting their call for safe school environments, free of alcohol abuse and marketing".

ENDS

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