‘Phantom’ liquor licences behind bar opposition
Te Whatu Ora Health NZ has admitted it cited up to 58 bar liquor licences that do not exist in justifying opposition to a new Courtenay Place pub.
The national health agency spent $22,750 opposing a liquor licence for Saint Diablo and eventually conceded to a closing time one hour earlier than requested. It came from the $50,000 budgeted for the legal battle.
The Post in March revealed eight of the 14 liquor licences Te Whatu Ora opposed in the past two years across the Wellington region, reaching to Upper Hutt and Kāpiti, were in the Courtenay Place precinct – where bars have been closing, patronage is down and a cocktail of measures is under way to bring life back.
“When it comes to alcohol harm and the prospective risk of alcohol-related harm to our community, we look closely at how we can improve that,” a statement from the health agency said, when asked about the apparent Courtenay Place focus.
“The number of on-licences located within 500 metres of Saint Diablo is just under 200.”
When asked, under the Official Information Act, to list those “just under 200” licensed venues, Te Whatu Ota national public health service regional director Paula Snowden confirmed the real number was 142, and the 200 figure included “special one-off licences for events, as well as expired licenses within the 500m radius”.
“Please, accept our apologies for previously providing incorrect figures,” Snowden said.
Google Maps also reveals that at least three of the remaining licensed premises on the list – Garage Project: Wild Workshop at 7 Marion St, The Fermentery at 100 Taranaki St, and Kingsgate Hotel at 73 Roxburgh St – are more than 500m from Saint Diablo.
Te Whatu Ora has been asked to detail routes from Saint Diablo to the venues in under 500m, as well as to list the licences that do not exist. It could not answer by deadline.
Greig Wilson, who had a protracted battle with Te Whatu Ora, police and the Wellington City Council to get a liquor licence for Saint Diablo, said 200 was a “very convenient” figure to quote in opposing licences.
It was “shocking” a government department with a large team working on opposing licences could get the figures so wrong, he said. Some of the still-listed venues had since closed, he said.
Jeremy Smith, from Courtenay Place Activation – a hospitality-led programme to try to restore vibrancy to the strip, said the dodgy numbers were a “major concern”.
Authorities had “unlimited resources” and seemed to focus those on opposing any liquor licence later than 2am.
“We are trying to save Courtenay Place and save the night-time economy,” he said.
It comes as a concerted effort is under way to reinvigorate the once-humming party zone, that has been in decline for years. This includes a controversial $32 million Wellington City Council planned investment to get the Reading Central complex reopened, a separate council plan to “revitalise” the strip, and the Courtenay Place Activation.
Smith previously said Courtenay Place was now effectively a ghost town on week nights.