Auckland Council's Provisional Local Alcohol Policy and crimes rates in the CBD w/ Councillor Shane Henderson: 15th August, 2024

Earlier this month, the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Committee approved Auckland Council's Provisional Local Alcohol Policy. 

If brought into effect by the council, the policy will introduce measures such as applications for new bottle shops to be very likely rejected for the next two years, bottle shops and supermarkets across Auckland will need to stop selling alcohol no later than 9pm, and bars, restaurants and other on-licences permitted by the District Licensing Committee will be able to sell alcohol until no later than 4am in the city centre, and 3am outside of the city centre.

Auckland Council will set a date for the policy to come into force at a future meeting of its governing body.

In other news, earlier this week Council reported that theft and burglary rates are down in central Auckland, dropping by 34% year on year. 

This comes after council endorsed a safety plan for the CBD, much of which is already funded and under way.

Producer Sofia spoke to Councillor Shane Henderson about both of these topics, asking him firstly to explain what the current laws are and what the Provisional Local Alcohol Policy would change them to.