Bashing fuels call for crackdown on bars

A NEAR-FATAL bashing in Paihia is fuelling calls for a crackdown on the tourist town's late-night bars.
A Haruru Falls father-of-three is seriously ill in Auckland Hospital after the Thursday morning attack, and there are fears he may be paralysed on one side of his body. He was transferred from intensive care to a neurosurgery ward last night where his condition is improving.
Three Kawakawa brothers have been arrested in relation to the attack.
The victim, a 34-year-old man, had emergency surgery on his head after the 3am beating outside the Lighthouse Tavern on Paihia's main street.
Police and locals had been concerned about unruly behaviour and violence outside the tavern for some time - and by coincidence a meeting was held on the day of the bashing, at which they called for the tavern's licence to be revoked or its opening hours slashed.
The Kawakawa brothers, aged 18, 19 and 22, appeared in the Kaikohe District Court yesterday on a charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
One of the brothers faced an additional charge of possessing an offensive weapon and assault on another victim.
The youngest of the trio, unemployed Jade Thompson, was remanded in custody to appear again on January 14.
Adrian Thompson, 19, unemployed, and Alan Thompson, 22, were bailed and will join their brother in court on January 14.
Detective Sergeant Rhys Johnston said family and friends were at the bedside of the man in Auckland. He said the man had woken for a couple of seconds after surgery. However, early medical reports indicated the man had lost movement on one side of his body.
"It's early days yet to say exactly what damage there is," Mr Johnston said.
Police have seized a vehicle for forensic examination. Paihia's main street was shut for most of Thursday while forensic scientists gathered evidence.
As the police conducted their investigations, police and locals were making submissions to a liquor licensing hearing about the tavern's management and opening hours. The meeting had been scheduled months earlier.
Far North alcohol co-ordinator, Senior Constable Graeme Wright, said police opposed the licence and wanted the opening hours reduced. Currently the tavern closes at 3am. About 50 people were at the hearing after mounting community concern over violence and disorder outside the Lighthouse Tavern at closing time. Authority chair Judge Edward Unwin reserved his decision and has 30 days to release it.
Mr Wright said there had been incidents prior to Thursday's.
Most licensed premises in Paihia closed at 1am. After that there was a migration to the Lighthouse, Mr Wright said.
"It's not just an issue for the Lighthouse Tavern alone, but something the whole town has to address."
Volunteer community patrols began earlier this year in a bid to reduce disorder and alert police to crime from Haruru Falls to Opua.
Business Pahia chairman Heinz Marti said disorder problems had prompted the organisation to make a submission that the tavern close at 1am.
Paihia motel and business owners banded together to complain about an emerging "yob culture".
• Anyone with information about the assault can contact the Kaikohe CIB on (09) 405 2960.
* Victim is a family man with 3 children
THE victim of Thursday's near-fatal bashing is described by his friends as a "good bugger" who worked hard and did his best for his three young children.
The 34-year-old, who works at the Copthorne Hotel in Waitangi, was enjoying a rare night out with his workmates when the attack happened.
The victim, who had celebrated his birthday two days earlier, has three children under 10 at Paihia School.
A friend of the family, who did not want to be named, was "absolutely gutted" by the attack.
"He was a hard-working guy, just trying to do his best to look after his family and get ahead.
"He didn't go out much and every time I saw him he had one or two kids hanging off him. He's just like you and me."
The attack was "just so bloody unfair", he said.
The friend said trouble around the Lighthouse had been going on for too long.
There was rarely trouble inside the tavern - security made sure of that - but once the drinkers were outside "it's all on".
The victim's partner, as well as other family members and friends, are by his bedside in Auckland.