MP’S bar held ‘leprechaun curling’ competition
A bar owned by NZ First MP Clayton Mitchell was investigated by gambling authorities over concerns about underage gambling on pokie machines.
Mitchell owned the Mount Mellick Irish pub in Mt Maunganui with former police officer Brad Shipton, who was subsequently disgraced over a rape conviction.
Stuff has revealed how Mitchell was once judged unfit to run pubs because of his criminal record.
One of the pair’s pubs ran a ‘‘leprechaun curling’’ competition, in which an oiled-up dwarf was thrown down a length of plastic.
Mitchell is promoting a ‘‘values’’ bill which would require migrants to sign up to a cultural ‘‘code of conduct’’ that includes a commitment not to campaign against the legality of alcohol. The Department of Internal Affairs raised concerns about a gaming room at the Mount Mellick pub in 2008 – and imposed conditions on its licence. An appeal against the decision to the Gambling Commission was unsuccessful. At the heart of concerns was the ability of under-18s to be able to access pokie machines through a side door, undetected by staff. A commissioner twice paid a ‘‘mystery shopper’’ visit to the bar and was concerned that although CCTV cameras and infrared sensors were in place, staff were too busy for the measures to be effective or to make regular checks on who was using the pokies.
‘‘At no stage during either of the two visits did any member of staff enter the gaming room, nor did they appear to pay attention to the CCTV monitor located at the bar . . .’’ the commission said.
Almost a decade earlier, Mitchell had been banned from running pubs by the Liquor Licensing Authority because of his criminal record, but later won back his general manager’s certificate with the support of a reference from Shipton. The pair went into business together, running several Bay of Plenty pubs.
In 2010, a stag-do at the Mellick erupted into violence. Police officers had hired the venue – and a stripper – for the party. But a fight broke out and a police officer suffered a gash to the head.
The pub was also notorious for a ‘‘leprechaun curling’’ competition. Shipton defended the event in 2013 as ‘‘just good fun’’.
Mitchell was approached for comment.