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The chair of the Auckland District Māori Council says Māori wardens has resumed patrols in central Auckland to address a surge in alcohol-fuelled violence.
25-year-old mixed martial arts fighter Fau Vake died yesterday a week after he was admitted to Auckland Hospital after being hit from behind while waiting for a taxi on Symonds St.
Matthew Tukaki says it’s devastating not just for Mr Vake and his family but for the families of the four young men facing serious charges because of the incident.
He says Māori wardens have a unique ability to deescalate potentially violent situations, and they also have experience dealing with things like glue-sniffing, which is reemerging as a problem.
"So we've got a raft of things going on. We've got the motels, the emergency accommodation emptying back homeless people onto the streets. We're seeing a rise in gang-related violence. We're seeing a rise in alcohol-fuelled violence, it's on the up and this is what we need to do to nip it in the bud right now," Mr Tukaki says.
He's calling for a review of the liquor licensing laws.
Questions also need to be asked of the city’s security guards, with guards letting people enter clubs drunk or letting them back on the streets with no regard for their welfare.
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