Wellington's 'Fight Club' New World gets liquor licence despite police concerns

Thursday, 26 May 2016

About 20 people are attracted to a fight in the car park of New World Wellington City.

Despite being labelled 'ground zero' for Wellington city's booze problems, Chaffers New World supermarket has been granted a liquor licence renewal, with conditions.

In a decision released on Thursday, the Wellington District Liquor Licensing Committee said owner Gary Baker had failed 'to appreciate the seriousness of its car park being, in effect, ground zero for alcohol-related harm in the area, and failing to see the need to remedy this situation as being its responsibility as well as the responsibility of the police'.

During the supermarket's liquor licensing hearing last year, police revealed CCTV footage of the assaults, disorder, public urination and alcohol abuse they said made New World's car park – just 30 metres from Courtenay Place – a hot spot for pre-loading and after-hours crime on Friday and Saturday nights.

Chaffers New World has had its liquor licence renewed,despite concerns about its carpark being 'ground zero' for trouble.

Crime and disorder spilling over from the supermarket had become so bad that police dubbed the car park, and nearby Blair St, the capital's 'crime corridor'.

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Police showed the liquor licensing hearing CCTV images of drinking and the fighting in the Chaffers New World car park.

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Last year Constable Daniel Shaw showed the committee CCTV footage of an incident in the early hours of October 11 when a brawl involving at least 20 people broke out. 'It's like a fight club or something,' he said.

The licence was granted for current hours of 7am to 11pm, but the decision hinged on Baker agreeing to close the car park every weekend and on public holidays from 11.30pm until 5am, and also when events such as the Wellington Sevens were on.

Police alcohol harm reduction officer Sergeant Damian Rapira-Davies said the committee's ruling, which also includes a single alcohol area, raised 'lots of discussion points for ourselves and the industry about how we can improve licensing in our higher-risk areas'.

Foodstuffs head of external relations Antoinette Laird said the company was pleased with the decision to renew the licence for three years. 'The store is happy to implement the car park controls, many of which are already in place, as we think these are reasonable.'

The committee's labelling of the supermarket being 'ground zero' for alcohol issues in the city referred to problems before measures agreed with the police were put in place, she said.

Foodstuffs had been working with police to help manage crimes committed by trespassers in the car park after hours.

'We believe the car park controls are an effective way to reduce these issues. If we weren't fulfilling our responsibilities then our licence would not have been renewed,' she said.