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Many Manurewa residents blame the high number of liquor stores in the area for the increase in violent crime in their area.
The community is still coming to terms with what happened in their neighbourhood last Saturday, when 30-year-old liquor store owner Navjet Singh was killed in cold blood.
Manurewa has the highest number of off-licences in Manukau city and the local council is renewing calls for a law change so it can combat the suburban spread of such outlets.
Recent statistics show there are 156 off-licences in south Auckland including bottle stores, supermarkets, grocery shops and even dairies.
Thirty three outlets are located in Manurewa where Navtej Singh was fatally shot; Botany-Clevedon, the largest area, has 26 outlets; Mangere has 24.
But it is not just quantity, it is the clustering of outlets in which is a problem. In one area there are five outlets within 600 metres of each other.
"There seems to be a real density of liquor stores in those poorer parts of our city," says Manukau City councillor Dick Quax.
Thirty three outlets are located in Manurewa where Navtej Singh was fatally shot; Botany-Clevedon, the largest area, has 26 outlets; Mangere has 24.
The council wants licensing laws changed so it can control the density and residential spread of off-licenses.
Even liquor store owners admit there is a problem.
"Manurewa, Otara, Otahuhu and Mangere, these areas are the worst of South Auckland. There are too many liquor stores there," says Liquor store owner Nilesh Sahay.
Cheap deals are also causing issues. Nilesh Sahay says he doesn't do rock bottom discounts, but claims tough competition means some are in order to stay afloat.
"Each booze shop wants to sell more, that is the main thing, and make more profit," he says.
Profit some say, is costing the community dearly.
