Local Alcohol Policy: Napier to retain 3am bar closing times after council reversal
'I'm not prepared to take that away from our community who are growing up and doing their thing and learning about the world.
'How are they going to learn about the world sitting at home playing on a PlayStation?'
The earlier closing time was a major part of the draft Local Alcohol Policy (LAP), which also included that no more off-licences be issued for bottle stores in Maraenui, Marewa and Onekawa – the Reserve, Suburban Commercial and Residential Zone.
However, during the meeting, Mayor Kirsten Wise called for an amendment to the proposed LAP based on what she was hearing around the table.
'What I'm going to propose is an amendment to the officers' recommendation yet to be debated, and voted on but as our starting position, is we retain the provisions in the existing LAP regarding maximum trading hours, regarding the 3am closing for nightclubs and 7am selling at grocery stores.'
In all, 44% of submitters supported the proposed changes, with their reasons including helping reduce the harm caused by antisocial behaviour and alcohol, while 56% were against the changes, with reasons including unnecessary pressure being placed on the hospitality industry.
Chris Sullivan, a publican who has been in the industry for 47 years, had earlier said the proposed changes in the closing hours were crazy.
He said if bars had issues they were 'not being run right, with little or no security'.
Sullivan, who owns Napier nightclub Roxof, spoke at the meeting about the importance of creating a safe environment using security and cameras.
Another issue identified by officers on the proposed LAP was consistency and alignment with Hastings District Council.
Hastings bars are open until 2am.
However, McGrath said he kept hearing about Hastings.
'I was voted in for Napier. It's about time perhaps Hastings looked at itself and said 'hey actually Napier's going to three, if we think there's a big enough issue with the different closing times, we will match Napier'.
'It doesn't always have to be us going the other way, they can match us. We are a tourist town, perhaps they aren't so much.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NZ Herald
2 days ago
- NZ Herald
NZ receives 1500 refugees each year but Hawke's Bay doesn't settle any. Why?
The closest settlement locations are Palmerston North and Masterton, and the newest locations to welcome refugee families include Blenheim, Timaru, Ashburton, Levin and Masterton. 'Quota refugees are settled in locations throughout New Zealand based on community links and access to services to help support their settlement and employment opportunities,' an Immigration NZ spokeswoman said. 'We work with refugees to ensure that their allocated settlement region is one that meets their needs and has the capacity to support them. 'New Zealand has a long and proud history of helping people whose lives are at risk and are forced to flee their country.' Multicultural Association Hawke's Bay president Rizwaana Latiff said multiple Afghan and Iraqi refugees now live in the region, particularly around Napier, and refugees were free to move here once they had been settled in other locations like Palmerston North. She said while it would be great to see refugees sent to Hawke's Bay directly to live, the reality was support, funding and volunteers had to be in place first. 'At the moment, I would love us to be a resettlement spot, but we can't just say we want to when we don't have the resources to be able to welcome them.' She said refugees need assistance with housing, language learning, finding jobs, transport, navigating where and how to access services, and on top of that they 'have an added layer in that they have been traumatised'. 'If I had a magic wand, that is what I would love to do, welcome them,' she said. 'These refugees have lived for years in shacks. 'To even have a one-bedroom house would be ideal for them if they had power and running water and food. 'But we also need to look at the flipside of the reality of what is happening in Hawke's Bay.' She said Hawke's Bay has a big housing shortage and things like jobs all needed to be taken into account. She said one thing people can do to help prepare the region to potentially become a settlement location in future was volunteer, and support the migrant population. She said there was a shortage of volunteers in Hawke's Bay for things like teaching English or helping migrants learn to drive. 'A lot of people don't realise the value that migrants bring, not just economically but culturally as well,' Latiff, who is running for Hastings District Council, said. 'It brings the world to us. It helps our children grow up with open minds.' New Zealand's quota of 1500 people will be reviewed again in 2028. If you would like to volunteer email president@ Gary Hamilton-Irvine is a Hawke's Bay-based reporter who covers a range of news topics including business, councils, breaking news and cyclone recovery. He formerly worked at News Corp Australia.
NZ Herald
4 days ago
- NZ Herald
Hastings: From local body election newcomer to guaranteed councillor, in just five days
Milmine is the only newcomer across the region to be elected unopposed. She said she thought she would have to campaign hard to prove herself. 'It came as a shock when I found out that was not the case. I feel it would have been justified to fight for my place. 'Now it's a matter of showing my constituency I am worthy of their vote through the term by working hard for our community.' She said she would not be criticising any decision by the present council as she moves into the role. 'I'm about shaping the future.' Both candidates in the Hastings council's Heretaunga Ward, Alwyn Corban and Hana Montaperto-Hendry, are elected unopposed. Corban went through unopposed in 2022 but fought for his position in his first term in 2019. He says he's been involved in the ward for six years and thinks that going through without a contest means people are happy with what is happening. The other three Hawke's Bay candidates who went through unopposed, from left Alwyn Corban (left) and Hana Montaperto-Hendry (right) for the Heretaunga Ward at Hastings District Council and Thompson Hokianga (centre) at Hawke's Bay Regional Council for the Māui ki te Tonga Māori Regional Constituency. He said the new council would have many challenges over the next three years, including responding to Central Government's directions. 'I'm pleased so many people have put their hands up and part of the reason for that was many standing councillors indicated they weren't going to restand.' Montaperto-Hendry was one of seven candidates in a byelection in 2024 for her seat after third-term councillor Ann Redstone resigned because of illness. She says she feels grateful to be elected unopposed. 'It feels as if I am doing a good job and giving 100% to the community. 'There are a lot of challenges going forward but to quote Aristotle, 'The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance'. 'To me, that means it's cool we have the best water and roads, but if we don't have a beautiful town, people won't come and use our roads and water. It's all about balance.' She said there are some great candidates and she was looking forward to getting stuck in and working hard. Thompson Hokianga at the Hawke's Bay Regional Council is elected unopposed for the Māui ki te Tonga Māori Regional Constituency for the second time. He says at first, he felt a quiet relief. 'Then came something deeper, a profound gratitude that our people had placed their confidence in me, and that trust carries weight,' Hokianga said. 'I knew others were thinking about standing, but as the scale of the mahi became clear, they chose instead to wish me well in the journey ahead. I wasn't shying away from the campaign, I was stepping into it with purpose. 'After Cyclone Gabrielle, many in our community felt let down. That loss of faith is real. The challenge now is to breathe life into the Long-Term Plan, not just as a document, but as a commitment.' He said the council needed to activate the parts of it that speak directly to community concerns about flood resilience, water security, and environmental protection. 'These aren't just policy points, they're promises to our marae, our papakāinga, and our mokopuna. When we prioritise taiao and protect our whenua, we restore trust. 'We show our people that we're not just moving, we're moving in the right direction,' he said. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
NZ Herald
4 days ago
- NZ Herald
Hawke's Bay bars and restaurants adapt to winter months and tighter spending habits
He said he would keep the name and, in time, planned to reopen the cafe at the front of the venue. The former owner of Rosie O'Grady's Napier, Stefan Burt, said as far as he was aware, both the Clive Square and Taradale buildings were still up for lease, while his Hastings Irish pub was doing a good trade. Ahuriri West Quay nightlife hotspots Chris Sullivan, the owner of popular Napier nightlife hotspots on West Quay at Ahuriri, Roxof Nightclub, Thirsty Whale Bar and Restaurant, Paddy's Irish Pub and Kork n Barrel, said business was fluctuating. 'One week we are down, and the next week we are up, but it's not consistently down every week.' He said both Kork n Barrel and Thirsty Whale were currently down 15% in dining compared with the same time in 2023 and 2024, with early-week customers less common. Sullivan said it was noticeable that people were paying attention to how and what they spend their money on. 'People just haven't got the expendable dollar that they probably had two or three years ago.' Ahuriri hospitality operator Chris Sullivan said business was fluctuating, with people watching how they spent their money. Photo / Michaela Gower He attributed the cost increase in food, power, rent and rates as part of the reason people were being more cautious. 'The luxuries of going out probably suffer.' Sullivan said his establishments worked hard to keep prices down, despite their food costs 'rocketing'. 'Food is the big one, like our steak, three years ago we were buying eye fillet steak for $27 a kilogram, we now pay $52 – it's doubled.' He said there was no difference in the number of people attending Roxof but there was a small decrease in the spending at the bar, which was typically $20 per person across a clientele of up to 900 people on a Saturday night. Sullivan said Paddy's was 'still going strong', as they had not put drink prices up, but early-week dining was quiet. 'You have got to offer friendly service and try to get the prices right for people to make them come back on a regular basis – but that comes at a cost.' Common Room in Hastings goes for affordability, safety and 'a good time' The Common Room bar and music lounge owners Fiona Le and Chris Whyte were working hard to keep people coming through the door. This winter the business has lowered the price for cocktail drinks to $15, with plans to keep that price. Previously, prices for cocktails were up to $20. 'There are not many people in fortunate positions to have a lot of disposable income at the moment, and that's not just young people, that's everyone,' Whyte said. The Hastings Common Room bar, restaurant and music venue team, Chavez Farquhar (left) with Fiona Le, John Bland and Chris Whyte. Photo / Michaela Gower Their goal is to ensure that people visiting their establishment on Heretaunga St East are getting the best value for money. Whyte said there are three things people look for when they go out to bars and restaurants. This included affordability, a safe environment, and a chance to relax and have a good time. 'Our industry is getting people together, and it's far better to have a full room so people feel far better about the time than it is to have ten people standing around trying to create a vibe.' Whyte said a lot of blame for the struggles in the hospitality industry was attributed to the pandemic, and he said that it needed to stop being used as an excuse. 'Part of being resilient is weathering the storm, standing up and moving forward.' Michaela Gower joined Hawke's Bay Today in 2023 and is based out of the Hastings newsroom. She covers Dannevirke and Hawke's Bay news and loves sharing stories about farming and rural communities.
