New liquor ban for Raggamuffin aimed at helping event run smoothly

Locals and visitors attending the Raggamuffin music festival in Rotorua this weekend are being alerted to the fact that a new liquor ban is in place outside the venue and its surrounding streets.

This is the first year that a liquor ban has been implemented in the areas surrounding Rotorua International Stadium during the Raggamuffin event. The usual liquor bans remain in place in the CBD and public spaces around Rotorua.

The liquor ban covers a wide block around the Stadium, with a loop encompassing Pukehangi Road, Malfroy Road, Jervis Street, Huia Street, all of Devon Street West, and all streets and reserves within that area.

Rotorua Police Area Commander, Inspector Bruce Horne, says Police were keen to see a liquor ban implemented in the area in an effort to ensure the event runs as smoothly as possible.

"Continuous improvement is fundamental to our approach to policing in Rotorua, and achieving excellence in planning for major events has been a focus for us in recent years. It will be even more important as we look towards planning for Rugby World Cup in 2011.

"In order to ensure that we continue to learn, we always debrief our response to major events, and we include our partners in that discussion.

"One of the issues identified last year, was that there were a large number of people carrying and consuming alcohol in the streets leading up to the venue, and in the carparks outside the venue. In addition, there were others drinking outside the venue, without any intention of attending the concert.

"This not only caused some anxiety for local residents and concert-goers, but also increased the risk of intoxicated people becoming disorderly and damaging property.

"That problem has been mitigated in part by improvements made by the organisers in providing a range of food, beverage and merchandise tents in a field adjacent to the venue.

"Nevertheless, intoxicated people moving to and from the venue has been a concern, and the implementation of the liquor ban this year helps remove that risk and enhances public safety."

Inspector Horne says Police will actively enforce the liquor ban.

"This means we will take some level of action in relation to any breach of the liquor ban. All breaches will result in liquor being confiscated, and in most cases will result in an arrest. Police officers are empowered to exercise discretion, however warnings for breaches of the liquor ban will be the exception, not the rule."

The Rotorua District Council is responsible for liquor licensing in the Rotorua area, and has implemented the temporary liquor ban for Raggamuffin.

The Rotorua District Council Regulatory and Support Services Manager, Jim Nicklin, says the council has a provision in its Public Places Liquor Control Bylaw to allow it to implement temporary liquor bans to support major events. The provision arose from public submissions when the bylaw was reviewed last year.

"The council saw this as an additional tool to help ensure the safety of both the public attending events, and residents living within the precinct of the event venue."