Food festivals?great events?that need to?be supported

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Opinion

New Zealand’s alcohol problem could have another innocent victim, if the district licensing committee decides against allowing a restricted drinking area at the Gizzy International Food Festival that is set to launch this year’s Gizzy Food Week on July 1.

It seems that inefficient, frustrating wheels of bureaucracy are another repeat offender.

The two street food festivals Amy Spence organised last year at either end of Reads Quay were huge successes. The public flocked to them, food stalls sold out . . . and no one got inebriated.

This year she saw an opportunity to tie a food festival in with the Skate Jam Competition that would attract top skateboarders from around the North Island — helping promote a sport rising in popularity and recommended for inclusion in the 2020 Olympics.

Ms Spence discussed her idea with the council and put in an application two months ago for an event at Alfred Cox Skate Park.

It wasn’t until a meeting a few weeks later involving the council, police and the medical officer of health that she discovered there was an issue with the provision of alcohol. She says it was too late then to switch venues.

Now she faces a licensing decision next week that could see her cancel the food festival just two weeks out. It could also put Ms Spence off organising any more of these events. Why would you bother when it is done for love but can be such a hassle?

Too many New Zealanders drink too heavily and our public servants are left to pick up the pieces. It’s no wonder the police and health officials want to denormalise alcohol consumption.

Maybe the skate park area should be a no-go zone for this sort of event in future, but in this instance it would be great if the licensing committee says yes to a restricted drinking area — to support a hugely popular event, the many businesses involved and a hard-working, successful organiser who deserves a break.

If it says no, hopefully the public will be able to convince Ms Spence that she should go ahead with the food festival . . . and the council will find more ways to help rather than hinder in future.