Group close to forcing referendum over West Auckland alcohol monopoly

Wednesday, 12 June 2019

Nick Smale has organised a petition to try and bring about change to west Auckland's alcohol licensing laws (video published March 2019).

A group fighting to challenge an alcohol monopoly in West Auckland has one last chance to spark a referendum and they are running out of time to collect 28,000 signatures by Friday.

So far, the West Auckland Licensing Trust Action Group (WALTAG) has collected 24,000 signatures to call for a public vote against the Portage and Waitākere Licensing Trust - collectively known as The Trusts.

It's been 16 years since residents voted on the alcohol licensing model, which controls the bottle shop and pub monopoly in West Auckland.

The Trusts model means they are the only organisations that can apply to Auckland Council for a license to run a bottle shop or bar in an area stretching from Blockhouse Bay to east of Kumeū.

Nick Smale started a petition in West Auckland last year to try and bring about change to the Trusts monopoly of alcohol in the area.

* How much for an alcohol monopoly?

* Explainer: What's going on with alcohol sales in West Auckland**

The Trusts chief executive Simon Wickham says they have a lot of support in West Auckland.

West Aucklanders also cannot purchase alcohol from supermarkets.

WALTAG member Nick Smale said it was about time The Trusts had some competition in alcohol retail.

But the signatures they had was not enough to guarantee a change.

Smale accepted defeat in that signatures for the Portage Licensing Trust would not reach the required threshold by Friday, but WALTAG still had a chance with the Waitākere Licensing Trust.

'We've got more than 16,000 signatures for the Waitākere Licensing Trust which is past the 15,000 threshold requirement,' Smales said.

The Trusts control the bottle shop and pub monopoly in West Auckland.

'But we'd still need more than that to ensure that we really do get a chance for a public vote.'

Smale said the signatures for the Waitākere Licensing Trust will be scrutinised by the Licensing Trusts and Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority who will crosscheck each name with the electoral roll.

If more than 15 per cent of people on the electoral roll in a Trust's area sign a petition, a vote could be forced.

'That is why it's so important that we get even more signatures so we can be absolutely safe.'

WALTAG launched the petition last August in the hope of seeing more competition for alcohol sales in West Auckland.

Smale said West Auckland's more than 230,000 population had only 10 options for pubs, controlled by The Trusts.

West Aucklanders deserved the choice to buy beer and wine at their local supermarket and a selection of places to dine in without having to drive outside of the area for a good night out, he said.

'We'd like to see competition on retail, hospitality and funding in the community.'

The Trusts controlled more than 40 bars and West Liquor outlets in West Auckland and had a combined turnover of $100 million a year.

Some of the profits from alcohol sales went back into the community through funding.

Trusts chief executive officer Simon Wickham said there was a huge amount of support for the Trusts in West Auckland.

'If there is a referendum it will give our supporters a much greater chance to have their say.'