Sharples Pita: Sale of Liquor (Objections to Applications) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Sharples Pita: Sale of Liquor (Objections to Applications) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:648;Page:17158] 
Dr PITA SHARPLES (Co-Leader—Maori Party) 
: 
 It is an interesting irony that while we are debating this bill here today in Waitangi the Public Health Association conference is debating strategies to reduce alcohol marketing and promotion at the local level. The association between alcohol-induced harm and health effects is a significant one. In fact one of the key deficiencies in the Sale of Liquor Act has been the lack of a public health profile. The Act promotes a predominantly business focus assuming alcohol to be a mere commodity to be bought and sold. Yet the reality that we all know too well is the traumatic and catastrophic costs of alcohol-related harm right across the public health spectrum as experienced in physical and sexual violence road accidents criminal offences and other negative impacts. Maori are particularly concerned about the way in which we drink. Although the overall rates of consumption are about the same for Maori and non-Maori Maori are experiencing disproportionate harm from drinking. Put simply as the advertisement says it is not what we are drinking; it is about how we are drinking and the “how” is all about drinking too much at one time. 
The Maori Party has consistently raised its concerns about the impact of unregulated access to alcohol. We believe therefore that this bill from George Hawkins is an important step towards taking some responsibility for the harm that has resulted from alcohol consumption. But I want to make one point clear: it is not just the prerogative of the Parliament to make a stand. I think of my own tipuna Niniwai Te Rangi a woman who led Te Komiti Wahine-a-Hine-ahu-one an organisation that aimed to get rid of alcohol in Maori pa. Niniwai was the eldest surviving daughter of Heremaia Tamaihotua also known as Ngapuruki a leading chief of Ngati Hikawera of Ngati Kahungunu. Her abilities as a speaker her knowledge of genealogy and tradition and her force of character and forthright outspokenness gave her a particular status. So when she spoke out against alcohol use at Papawai Marae which is the political centre that would host the Maori Parliaments of the Kotahitanga movement she made quite an impact. 
Other tribes have also had an impact with their haka waiata moteatea and various strategies to address alcohol-related harm and that is very common today amongst culture groups. Earlier today for instance Te Ururoa Flavell mentioned the impact made by Bishop Bennett in Rotorua advocating against the damaging effects of alcohol abuse on Maori. 
This bill is an important way to put barriers in place to address the impact of alcohol upon communities. But no matter how honourable the intention of the bill is we must all as communities also seek to challenge the way in which the sale of liquor has taken such an adverse toll on our people. When we can intervene at a community level to correct and when we can challenge without anger hatred or fear behaviour that is harmful and destructive we will truly be on the pathway towards solutions that will make a difference. I am reminded of the Maori word “hoariri” which is often translated as “enemy” but which in fact means “a friend with whom I am angry”. I must confess to occasionally having friends whom I have been angry with especially those associated with the enactment of the foreshore and seabed legislation. But perhaps what we all need to consider more deeply is how we support our hoariri those who are under the influence of and who are adversely affected by the availability of alcohol. We can all learn from the example of Niniwai Te Rangi who stood up and challenged her peers to address the impact of alcohol use. 
We will support this bill in that it will enable any person or party to stand up and object to an application for a liquor licence and to raise concern about the social impacts on the community if an on-licence or off-licence is granted. But we also advocate that we all take far greater responsibility for taking up the role of hoariri in reminding those who partake of alcohol of the disproportionate amount of harm that continues to flow from increasing alcohol consumption and disturbing patterns of behaviour.