21 August 2013
Community must have a say on Legal High Licencing
Manurewa Civic Leaders are pleased to hear that the 'legal high' store 'high zone' on Great South Road owned by
applicant 'Chandra Sekhar Kurra" in Manurewa has not been immediately given an interim licence to continue operating
like many other interim licences issued across New Zealand tonight.
Manurewa Local Board Simeon Brown says this shows the Ministry of Health is taking its obligations seriously under the
new Psychoactive Substances Act, however local communities are dis-empowered in the process.
"The Manurewa community has strongly objected to this store being allowed to operate in Manurewa with hundreds
protesting outside the store in May and thousands signing a petition which was presented to the Associate Minister of
Health who was in charge of the Psychoactive Substances Bill." Says Simeon Brown.
"The community has been loud and clear, but the community must also be empowered to be able to dictate where these
stores can be placed.
"The Manurewa Local Board has been leading the advocacy for Auckland Council to put in place urgently a Local Approved
Products Policy to ban stores selling these substances within a 1km radius of all schools, early childhood education
centres, kindergartens, places of worship and community halls and facilities.
"We believe that we need to be doing all we can to reduce the availability of these substances so that we can protect
our community from the harmful effects of these substances, particularly on young people.
"We will continue to do all we can to continue to restrict the sale of these substances. Ultimately they should be
banned." Says Mr Brown.
ENDS