MEDIA RELEASE
5 August 2004

Proposed new alcohol bans have Aucklanders' support

Auckland residents support extending the area covered by the central city alcohol ban and introducing new bans in some suburban areas.

Eighty three per cent of the 75 submissions received supported increasing the geographical area of the current central city alcohol ban to take in Albert Park, Nelson Street, Symonds Street and the area around the Strand and Beach Road.

However, there was a mixed reaction to the proposal to extend the time frame of the central city alcohol ban to 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The current central city alcohol ban is from 9pm to 6am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

Alcohol bans were also proposed for the shopping and business areas of Newmarket, Panmure, Avondale, Onehunga, Glen Innes, Blockhouse Bay, Otahuhu, Parnell and Mission Bay from 10pm to 6am, Thursday night to Sunday morning.

There was overwhelming public support for all the new proposed suburban bans except Blockhouse Bay and Mission Bay. These two areas received a mixed response.

The chairperson of Auckland City’s Law and Order Committee, Councillor Noelene Raffills, says she is pleased with the public’s response to this important issue. She says the council will do its best to ensure all submitters’ views are taken into consideration when finalising details of the proposed bans.

Written submissions on the proposed alcohol bans closed on 30 July 2004. The oral hearings will be on 13 August 2004.

Final decisions on the proposed bans will be made at a full council meeting on 26 August 2004.

Copies of the submissions are available on request.

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