Licence at risk after pub chaos

Alice Peacock

A tavern’s liquor licence is at risk after a messy night when two nearby events clashed last year.

Mangawhai Tavern staff found themselves in a spot of bother one March evening when an influx of patrons arrived after two events.

A raft race on a local river and a wine festival had coincided and hundreds of punters turned up at the tavern afterwards.

The tavern’s manager, Poni Sula, said by the time police turned up, people were strewn over the estuary near the tavern, half dressed and slurring their words.

“We weren’t wholly prepared for 350 intoxicated people to show up,” he said. “Unfortunately, people get liquored-up at these events and end up going somewhere else — and we were the somewhere else.”

Sula, who wasn’t managing the venue at the time of the incident, said he was optimistic ahead of a police hearing in which the venue’s liquor license could be suspended.

Staff handled the situation as best they could, he said, calling in extra security and shutting the bar down early. But it wasn’t enough to placate police.

“They decided to go ahead with notice of suspension, have a hearing and talk through the details.”

Sula was looking forward to the opportunity to have his say.

The Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority hearing would take place on April 4.

It was not clear how long a suspension would be imposed for if this were to happen.

The tavern would be cracking down on how it dealt with both events this year. Sula said people who had attended the raft race would be rejected access if they attempted to enter the tavern afterwards.

“We’re focused more on food and entertainment than we are on the drinking culture.”

There was a more lenient stance on those who had attended the Mangawhai Food & Wine Festival — but those who were obviously drunk would not be allowed in.