Media Release
11 July 2013
Manurewa Local Board Leads call for Local Policy on Sale of Psychoactive Substances
Manurewa Local Board Member Simeon Brown moved and had passed a motion to ban the sale of any substances which might be
approved under the newly passed Psychoactive Substances Act from within a 1km radius around Schools, ECE's,
Kindergartens, Places of Worship and community halls.
Under the newly passed Psychoactive Substances Act which was passed this evening, Local Authorities can now create Local
Approved Products Policies to disallow the sale of approved products under the Act from around certain premises.
Manurewa Local Board Member Simeon Brown moved the following motion seconded by Manurewa Business Association Chair and
Local Board Member Ken Penney.
That the Manurewa Local Board request Auckland Council to urgently draft a policy to enable the Manurewa Local Board to
have a Local Approved Products Policy to disallow the sale of approved products under the Psychoactive Substances Act
within a 1km radius of Schools, Early Childhood Education Centres, Kindergartens, Places of Worship and all community
halls and facilities.
"This is about protecting young people from these drugs whether they are legal or not. It is about taking them out of
our community and making it clear that we do not want them sold anywhere near where people work, play or go for
education." Says Simeon Brown.
"I am completely opposed to drugs being sold whether safe or not. This Act is a step in the right direction. Now we need
to ensure that even if some of these drugs are proven safe, that we make it extremely hard for them to be sold in our
communities.
"I am excited that Parliament has delegated this authority to Councils. I hope that Councils across the country will
take up this opportunity.
"Manurewa has led the way on the eradication of liquor stores, and now we need to do the same for legal highs." Says Mr
Brown.
Simeon Brown looks forward to working with Council officers to urgently draft this policy and have it implemented.
ENDS