20th February 2007

Otara Councillor Calls For Responsible Night Clubs

Otara’s Manukau City Councillor Su’a William Sio has urged the Otara Community Board to work with the Police and Manukau City Council liquor licensing officers to compel the two nightclubs that operate out of the Otara Town Centre to take responsibility for the drunk and violent behaviours associated with their operations.

“Too often, for far too long, our community have put up with the drunken and violent behaviours that emerge from these two premises. Too often we have witnessed patrons of these premises in situations where they lose control and assault each other and it spills out onto the car park and streets, putting the safety of bystanders into serious risks,” he said.

“When members of the public go out to socialise with families or friends in these places, they have a right to feel safe and to be treated with respect and dignity when they enter any entertainment premises. It is unacceptable when I hear fights taking place on the dance floor, or in public toilets of these clubs. This is absolutely senseless behaviour. We cannot tolerate it. We cannot accept it anywhere in our community”, says Councillor Sio.

Councillor Sio explained to the Otara Community Board in its first meeting for 2007 that he received a complaint from a man whose wife was assaulted without any cause by someone at the Matafaga Night Club in Otara on Saturday night.

“She was punched on the cheek and punched in the mouth………why? And where were the club’s security guards?”

“Luckily the man’s family have been urged by their family elders to not take the law into their own hands,” he said.

“I am utterly disgusted that this has happened.”

“These clubs do not contribute anything positive to this community. They contribute a continuous flow of alcoholic fuelled violence, blatant disregard of liquor laws by selling alcohol to drunken clients, (and on some occasions selling to minors), and the disgraceful behaviour of their clients in the car parks and shopping areas.”

“These activities tarnish the good name of the Otara Town Centre and significantly undermine the work of the local community groups who work tirelessly to make the Town Centre a clean & safe environment.”

ENDS

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