Councillor hits back at ‘attack’

A war of words has erupted between a city leader and the hospitality industry over sexual violence prevention in Wellington.

A Wellington City councillor is defending her stance on sexual violence prevention, after the Wellington branch of Hospitality New Zealand hit out at her, saying she was being too ‘‘heavy handed’’ in wanting to include sexual assault prevention training as a mandatory part of alcohol licensing regulation.

Cr Fleur Fitzsimons, who holds the city safety portfolio, has sent a letter to the Wellington branch president Jeremy Smith about the association’s submission on the council’s LongTerm Plan (LTP), which she says contains ‘‘serious and unfounded accusations’’ against her.

In the letter obtained by Stuff, she asks to meet Smith to get the relationship back on track.

‘‘Because, despite your reckless and unfounded accusations against me, I am committed to working with you and any other group who is serious about doing everything we can to eliminate sexual violence in Wellington.’’

The Hospitality NZ submission says the obligations licensees have under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 are already onerous, and with serious consequences to those who flout it.

‘‘Bearing in mind sexual assaults happen outside of bars too, the Wellington branch of Hospitality NZ questions the heavyhanded and prejudiced manner of council as represented by councillor Fleur [Fitzsimons]. Changing the rules of obtaining a manager’s certificate and the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act is best left to central government.’’

Hospitality NZ wanted to see a ‘‘more moderate and sensible approach’’ to alcohol licensing by the council.

In her letter, Fitzsimons said sexual violence in Wellington bars was a problem and she appreciated the association felt it was already doing significant work in the area.

However, she was unhappy at the personal attack and said the submission did not demonstrate ‘‘good faith’’ to work with the council to help eliminate sexual violence in the capital.

‘‘This is disappointing and I ask you to reconsider your position.’’

She did not accept the claim that she was prejudiced and she would not apologise to the industry for looking into every step that the council could take to prevent sexual violence in Wellington – including bars.

‘‘To be clear, the current situation cannot continue. The effects

of sexual violence on a person are long-term and serious.’’

Although there was taxpayer funding from the Health Promotion Agency to work with the Sexual Abuse Prevention network to provide bar staff training, only one session would be held in the capital. It was welcome but in her view must be the beginning of a more sustainable and durable commitment to train bar staff about the important role they played in prevention.

‘‘Without a long-term commitment including to train bar staff, sexual violence in bars will continue to occur.’’

She would be making sure the council did everything it could to prevent it in the city, including through urban design, CCTV, training of security staff at events, and education about consent.

Smith and Hospitality New Zealand regional manager for Greater Wellington, Raewyn Tan, spoke to their submission at the council’s LTP oral forum yesterday, urging the council to let the hospitality industry lead the charge on sexual assault prevention.

‘‘We would prefer for it to not be legislated because we don’t think it is necessary. We feel that a lot of what we do already addresses a lot of that sort of stuff and we already have training in the pipeline.’’

Tan specifically mentioned the use of body cameras as well as the Take 10 programme as examples of what was already being done.

‘‘Just because we are in the fun industry doesn’t mean that we are rule breakers. A lot of my operators are really good people who are proactive and want to make bars and the city centre a safer place.’’