Whanganui bans alcohol from parks

Whanganui's booze ban is back and has been extended to include several popular city parks.

Whanganui District Councillors voted in the new bylaw at Tuesday's meeting of council and comes just in time for the summer festive season.

A previous liquor ban had expired leaving police with no legal power to control the consumption, bringing, or possession of alcohol in public places.

Partial bans were imposed at Kowhai, James McGregor and Victoria parks, as well as a total ban for most of Victoria Park and also at Mowhanau Domain and Kai Iwi Beach to cover New Year celebrations.

Total bans for Kowhai Park and other children-centric areas will be investigated by council officers and brought back to council.

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It will also be illegal to consume or possess alcohol in vehicles inside alcohol-ban areas.

The new bylaw includes the widening of the 2004 liquor ban area in central city, extending from St John's Hill to Durie Hill, and taking in Queen's Park. The word liquor was also replaced with the word alcohol.

Most of the 17 submissions received supported the new bylaw.

One submitter, Julie Herewini, from Healthy Families, presented in person and argued for a total alcohol ban in Kowhai Park, saying New Zealand had a significant culture of alcohol abuse and that needed to change.

"Our children are actively targeted by our alcohol industry. They are actively marketed to and they are told they can't have fun unless alcohol is involved," Ms Herewini said.

"So when we associate alcohol with a children's playground ... where our kids are being pushed on the swings ... and we are told this is a place where it is okay to drink alcohol ... and having alcohol within view ... we're contributing to that alcohol culture within our community."

Similar submissions were received to include other areas including Peat, Wembley, and Springvale parks, Castlecliff Domain and Castlecliff Beach. However police advice and data did not provide sufficient evidence to satisfy legal requirements to include those areas.

Councillors conceded that a total ban at Kowhai Park should be investigated and asked council officers to provide a report in the new year.

The by-law comes into effect almost immediately and expires in 2021.

At a glance:
+Central Business District from Durie Hill to St John's Hill and bordered by Bell St and Wilson St, and including Queen's Park.
+Victoria Park is now split into an alcohol ban area between the designated times of
9pm to 7am the following day, and a total alcohol ban area.
+Kowhai Park is included in the alcohol ban area between the designated times of 9pm
and 7am the following day.
+Mowhanau Beach/Domain is now included in the alcohol ban area for the duration
3pm on 31 December until 3am on 1 January.
+Additional restrictions to possess, bring, or consume alcohol in a vehicle within an
alcohol ban area.