October 31, 2022
Law change hope for booze busters
An Otara Māori warden who has been fighting the spread of liquor outlets in low income communities is welcoming a promised law change.
Justice Minister Kiritapu Allen says the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 will be amended to stop the alcohol industry and retailers thwarting efforts by local councils to limit the sale of alcohol in their communities.
She says the law brought in by National hasn’t worked and needs to be changed so it works as intended.
Dave Ratu says it’s time to get the liquor industry and the lawyers out of local government.
“Our communities, in particular our people, need to have a greater say at that application end of it. Māori don’t have a say. (Licensing officials) don’t even recognise the treaty obligations they have,” he says.
He’d like to see communities able to impose a sinking lid policy, so if a liquor outlet closes it can’t be replaced.