Gisborne liquor store fights licence renewal amid school safety concerns
A Gisborne liquor store near me has faced opposition over its licence renewal due to concerns about public drinking near Kaiti School. The Red Door Liquor Store, which has operated for 20 years without major issues, now must address complaints from the school and health authorities.
Kaiti School principal Billie-Jean Potaka Ayton raised safety concerns, citing incidents where a nanny was verbally harassed while walking children past a nearby bus shelter. The school fears that liquor store near me sales contribute to risky behaviour in the area.
The Medical Officer of Health and Gisborne District Council's licensing inspector also opposed the renewal. They argued that continued sales could cause harm, despite the store's long history without enforcement action.
In response, the applicant, Martinus Jan van der Velde, agreed to measures to ease concerns. These include removing Scrumpy from sale and introducing minimum pricing. The council has also enforced an alcohol control bylaw, banning drinking in certain zones, including outside the school and community hub.
No data is available on whether incidents near the school have changed since these new rules were introduced.
The liquor store's licence renewal remains under scrutiny, with conditions now in place to limit potential harm. The council's bylaw and the store's own restrictions aim to reduce public drinking near Kaiti School. The outcome of the renewal process has yet to be confirmed.
