First community-driven petition to contest Licensing Trusts’ monopoly

A group of West Auckland residents have launched an online petition today to challenge the current alcohol monopoly held by the two Licensing Trusts in the area.

West Auckland Licensing Trust Action Group (WALTAG) spokesperson Nick Smale says it’s been 15 years since residents last voted, and it’s time to trigger a referendum ahead of the next local body elections.

“We need 15% of voters in the Portage and Waitakere Licensing Trusts areas to sign the petition – that’s about 28,000 people. If we can achieve this it will force a referendum and allow West Aucklanders to have their say.”

The Trusts have held a monopoly over hotels, taverns and bottle stores in West Auckland since the 1970s and Mr Smale says residents are missing out due to the lack of competition in the area.

“There's a distinct lack of local options for entertainment all over West Auckland. Many of us want to support local businesses, including bars but we don’t have the venues – or many choices. People end up traveling into the city or elsewhere to spend their money.

“The Trusts have not kept up with the changing tastes of West Aucklanders and are not equipped to meet the needs of a modern and increasingly cosmopolitan city.”

Mr Smale says WALTAG are concerned the Trusts' don’t have the ability or drive to cater to the booming West Auckland population, and they are also concerned about the Trusts’ lack of transparency, possible conflicts of interest and their profit distributions back to the community.

“Some of the trustees are also local board members and Auckland Councillors. WALTAG is concerned that the interests of The Trusts is incompatible with the long-term growth of town centres.

"In the last five years The Trusts have returned less than 15%* of their profits to the community. Considering they hold cash and assets to the value of around $100m, last year's return of just over $1m to the community (or just over 1%) is simply not acceptable.”

He says a 2014 report by the then-Auditor General, Lyn Provost, noted serious concerns about governance, financial performance, and a lack of public accountability of licensing trusts in general.

Mr Smale says the West Auckland Trusts are also one of the largest employers in West Auckland, and despite sitting on substantial assets, choose not to pay their staff a living wage.

To sign the online petition to force a referendum people can visit https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/4500493/West-Auckland-Trusts-Action-Group-Petition-2018

WALTAG will also have a traditional paper petition available for people to sign later in August.

To enrol to vote or to check enrolment details are up to date, visit https://www.elections.org.nz/voters/enrol-check-or-update-now

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