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Around 1000 people rallied in Manukau protesting the alcohol laws. - Source: NSPA -
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Protestors have hit the streets in South Auckland today, demanding liquor law reform.
Around 1000 people braved wet weather to attend a public rally calling for alcohol law reform in Manukau City.
Three separate hikoi converged for a rally on the centre of town at Manukau Square, to debate an issue they say is at the core of their community's problems.
In the last 20 years, the number of liquor licenses issued in the region has increased 300%.
Guest speakers at the rally included Major Campbell Roberts of the Salvation Army, Professor Doug Sellman of the National Addictions Centre and Alcohol Action NZ, Labour leader Phil Goff, Green Party MP David Clendon and National MP Paul Hutchinson.
Manukau Alcohol Action Group co-ordinator Rebecca Williams said the rally demonstrated the concern over alcohol-related harm that families and communities experience every day.
"We simply cannot continue with how things are. Today we ask the government to adopt the Law Commission's well considered recommendations and show some leadership on this issue," she said.
"We simply do not need more research or more reviews, we need action and we need it now."
Earlier this year a Law Commission report recommended a complete overhaul of New Zealand's liquor laws.
Major Roberts said politicians need to be courageous and stand up for the victims of alcohol abuse in this country.
"We're worried that the decisive and determined support that we expect from politicians for these excellent Law Commission recommendations has not been decisive and determined. It's been dithering and duck shoving," Roberts said.
"We are here today because we support and want political support for the blueprint that Sir Geoffrey Palmer and the Law Commission have given the nation. A sensible, sane agenda which, when implemented in its entirety, will drastically alter the negative impacts of alcohol in New Zealand."
Sellman said the government appears to be framing the heavy drinking culture as a youth problem and is calling for more research "to delay measures that would actually make a significant difference".
Participants in the rally called on the government to implement the entire package of Law Commission proposals, including increasing alcohol prices, restoring the purchase age to 20, restricting liquor marketing and promotion, reducing alcohol availability and lowering the adult blood alcohol limit for driving to 0.05.
And the demand for change was passed on to Justice Minister Simon Power who said the government has been concerned for some time about the availability of liquor.
The government is due to reveal which of the Law Commission's recommendations it will adopt in a few weeks.
