Brash Goes In to Bat for Auckland Restauranteurs
ACT Party Leader Don Brash says local council officials in Auckland should embrace the World Cup spirit and show some
Kiwi camaraderie by easing up on restrictive bylaws and giving restaurant owners not based in ‘Party Central’ a fair
crack.
Dr Brash was responding to New Zealand Herald reports that bar and restaurant owners anxious to extend World Cup
hospitality have been warned they could face prosecution.
“Local officials need to get into the spirit of things and start getting behind local businesses, not making life hard
for them”, Dr Brash said.
“I’ve had first-hand reports from several of these small business owners, and all they really want is to make the most
of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
"Pubs and restaurants close to Eden Park have already had to pay thousands of dollars just for approval to operate on
match nights, unlike their counterparts in 'Party Central' on Queen's Wharf.
"No one wants to see the law being broken," says Dr Brash, "but Council officials need to loosen up and show some
flexibility.
“Not all Rugby fans and tourists want to be corralled into ‘Party Central’ – Auckland’s got a lot more to offer.
“Restauranteurs and publicans have a great, one-off opportunity to showcase the rich array of great Kiwi hospitality the
city has to offer, both in the inner city and on the outskirts.
"A lot of enterprising people, just keen to provide a great kiwi experience, have had their ideas knocked back.
"I've been told of one restauranteur being refused permission to allow buskers outside his establishment. Resource
consent has been refused for street stalls. A proposal to hold a street festival in Kingsland has been turned down,
notwithstanding enthusiastic support from the locals.
"Kingsland is one area where there are likely to be thousands more seeking food, drink and entertainment than existing
establishments are legally permitted to cater for. But requests for flexibility have fallen on deaf ears. Some silly
bureaucrats are treating the World Cup more as a Civil Defence emergency than a celebration.
"To those officials I say, lighten up and help us get out the welcome mat. ACT will champion the cases of any business
being stymied by bureaucrats from trying to make this the best Rugby World Cup ever," Dr Brash concluded.
ENDS