Police have arrested one person while investigating a complaint from the member of the public that sighted a vehicle repeatedly crossing the centre line heading from Gore to Te Anau.

Around 7.30am on Sunday 21 December, Police signalled the vehicle in question to pull over on Main Street in Gore.

A strong smell of alcohol, bloodshot eyes and slurred speech greeted officers when they walked up to the driver.

Breath testing procedures revealed the driver was almost four times the legal limit, driving visibly and completely impaired after leaving a hen's do with little sleep.

A 38-year-old woman is due to appear in Gore District Court on 21 January 2026 and has been issued with a 28-day driving suspension notice.

Acting Senior Sergeant Christopher Rigby said that Police was disappointed to see poor choices being made when people are drinking then driving.

"The driver was seen driving erratically and its incredible that no one was hurt on the road.

"We always encourage people to sort sober drivers, rideshare or taxi if they have plans to drink.

There's no excuse to drinking and driving," said Senior Sergeant Rigby.

If you see dangerous driving, call Police immediately on 111.

Auckland City Police are disappointed three liquor stores failed basic requirements, selling alcohol to minors during a recent operation.

A joint Controlled Purchase Operation was carried out at over 30 suburban licensed premises across Auckland City suburb, testing compliance with laws against selling to minors under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012.

The Auckland City Alcohol Harm Prevention Unit and Auckland Council licensing inspectors carried out the operation over the last three weeks.

Sergeant Michael Haydon, Auckland City District Alcohol Harm Prevention Unit, says that three failed.

"We're really disappointed to report below 100 per cent compliance, in that three out of the thirty-six sites tested failed in their obligations," Sergeant Michael Haydon says.

"A very basic requirement for anyone selling alcohol is to ask for ID and then calculate the correct age from that identification."

Police and Auckland Council will now refer the three stores to the Alcohol Regulatory Licensing Authority for further action.

Sergeant Haydon says Police "work closely with partner agencies to reduce alcohol-related harm across the community and there is no excuse for basic failings".

"It's a privilege, and not a right, for licensees and duty managers to be granted the ability to sell alcohol.

Three sales to a minor are three too many.

"We are however pleased to see that thirty-three sites were compliant and correct in their processes and actions."

Controlled Purchase Operations are regularly carried out across the country, between Police, Health and Council licensing inspectors.

If you have concerns around the sale and supply of alcohol to minors in your community, please contact Police online at 105.police.govt.nz or call 105.

Information can also be reported anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

The alcohol industry’s influence on public policy has again been exposed by unjustified cuts to the public health team focused on reducing harm from alcohol consumption.

Health NZ Te Whatu Ora is proposing to cut its specialist Alcohol Harm Prevention team by a third, reducing it from 15 to 10 roles. This includes axing the Māori and Pacific advisor roles. The team is funded solely by the alcohol levy which has brought in more money in the last year.

"You can't reduce alcohol harm by cutting the alcohol harm reduction team - it's that simple. The Government's priorities are all wrong when we know excessive drinking continues to cause harm in communities," said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"This smacks of the influence of the alcohol industry on public policy decisions. It’s telling that there is no good financial rationale for these decisions as the alcohol levy has not been cut. The policy rationale used by Health NZ has no basis."

Staff have been told priorities have changed, and that over the next year they will not be working on social marketing campaigns or research with other work also scaled back.

"It makes no sense to end campaigns focused on responsible drinking; it’s a backward step which will have long term health consequences. Prevention is always cheaper than dealing with the aftermath - this will cost taxpayers and communities more in the long run.

"The Alcohol Harm Prevention team helped develop clever campaigns, which made a real impact in terms of encouraging people to drink less - targeting at risk groups like young drinkers.

"Reducing research means we'll know less about what works to protect our communities.

"The Government should be valuing these experts in alcohol related harm and ensuring they have the resources needed to be effective.

"It seems the alcohol lobby is being listened to over public health experts.

"We will be raising our concerns about the lack of transparency and failure to consult with the agencies who deal directly with alcohol related harm like the Police and ED workers.

"This is just another in a long line of examples, from science to conservation, of the Government making cuts without thinking about the services that will be impacted."

New Alcohol Healthwatch campaign launching in October highlights the link between alcohol and cancer during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This digital campaign will share content across a range of platforms (including Tiktok and Reddit) and partner with influencers to talk about the issue.

"We have a simple goal," says campaign lead Sarah Sneyd. "To shine a light on the truth about alcohol so people can make informed decisions about how much to drink."

The alcohol industry work hard to keep us in the dark about this truth. They cast doubt on the research, spend millions on linking drinking to friendship, sports, and glamour, and lobby our politicians and officials to maintain favourable regulatory settings.

Associate Professor Andy Towers from Massey University agrees. "Evidence is clear that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption. It’s important that the public have the truth of how alcohol harms our health, including causing hard to treat cancer like oesophageal and common cancers like breast and bowel."

The campaign also seeks to highlight how the alcohol industry put our kids under a constant spotlight that’s hard for them to escape. Even small amounts can damage young people’s DNA and lead to cancer over time.

Despite this, alcohol is everywhere - in our neighbourhoods, at our local sports clubs, near our children’s school - being constantly advertised, making it hard for any of us to avoid its harms.

"It’s important for people to make their own, informed choices, but when we’re kept in the dark and our neighbourhoods are swimming in alcohol, our choices are diminished," says Sneyd.

The campaign, launching 1 October, will feature across Alcohol Healthwatch’s Meta, Tiktok, X, and LinkedIn accounts.

The campaign website is: https://www.actionpoint.org.nz/alcoholandcancer
 

We all want the most up-to-date information to help us make informed choices for ourselves and our families.

This is why today Alcohol Healthwatch have just posted the most recent evidence-based low-risk drinking guidelines on their website.

New Zealand’s drinking guidelines are out of date and do not align with research showing there is no safe level of alcohol consumption, particularly for cancer risk.

Information obtained by RNZ shows the alcohol industry has worked to pause a review of the official low-risk drinking guidelines for New Zealand. These guidelines have not been updated since their release in 2011.

"Quality, evidence-based drinking guidelines are crucial to help people understand the risk from alcohol, and evidence shows risk is present even at low levels of alcohol consumption," says Andrew Galloway, Executive Director of Alcohol Healthwatch.

"Low-risk drinking guidelines are a tool for individuals but also for health practitioners, (like GPs and emergency department staff) to use these when discussing alcohol use with their patients."

Alcohol industry lobbyists were exposed by RNZ requesting that information about the review of the New Zealand low-risk drinking guidelines and links to other countries’ guidelines be removed from the Health NZ website.

The alcohol industry has a track record of opposing effective health policies. As a recent Public Health Communication Centre briefing on the rising influence of big business in policy making states: "t he alcohol industry profits when they impede effective policies, while individuals, wh ānau / families and taxpayers bear the costs, which fall disproportionately on Māori and low-income communities."

A recent poll shows the majority of New Zealanders agree the alcohol industry should have no place in developing alcohol policy.

"As the official New Zealand low-risk drinking guidelines are out of date, and a review of the guidelines has been paused, we thought we’d offer the New Zealand public the most recent, credible and evidence-based guidelines. People in Aotearoa New Zealand deserve to know the risks from alcohol, our nation’s most harmful drug ."

Find the new website page here:  https://www.ahw.org.nz/Issues-Resources/Health-Other-Harms/Low-risk-drinking-guidelines

Petition to be presented to BOP MP Tom Rutherford on Monday 10 February.

Every day, babies in New Zealand are born with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)—a preventable condition that impacts lives forever. A new petition is calling for bold action to stop this crisis where it starts: liquor store entrances.

Christopher Ingram, a retired dentist from Tauranga, has petitioned the government to make ‘Pregnant? Don’t drink’ warning signs mandatory at the entrances and inside bottle stores as a low-cost way to alert pregnant women to the risks of consuming alcohol during pregnancy.

"I’ve spoken with many people who have experienced firsthand the devastating effects of FASD,” said Ingram, who was inspired by a family friend’s experience. “A simple sign could be the difference between awareness and lifelong consequences.”

Mr Ingram has even had backup from liquor store owners. One, a father of four sons, said if he had the signs Mr Ingram could put them up in his store right away, and another, whose wife was a medical professional, said he'd also support having signage in his store.

Mr Ingram’s petition has garnered over 1,000 signatures and will be officially presented to Bay of Plenty MP Tom Rutherford on Monday, 10 February, at 12:30pm at his electorate office (3/9 Domain Road, Papamoa). Advocates and supporters of FASD awareness are expected to attend in support of the handover.

Regulations requiring warning labels on packaged alcohol products only became law in 2023 after 25 years of advocacy. Mr Ingram's petition seeks to extend that initiative, ensuring warnings are visible at the point of sale.

Outgoing Health Minister Dr Shane Reti previously emphasised the importance of tackling FASD, citing it as one of his key achievements. In 2024, Dr Reti introduced significant initiatives to raise awareness after two major New Zealand studies highlighted the enormous personal and societal costs of the disorder (links below).

"FASD-CAN supports this petition and hopes these warning signs become mandatory," says FASD-CAN CEO Stephanie James Sadler. "We hope the new Minister of Health, Simeon Brown, will continue to prioritise FASD awareness and this initiative is a step in the right direction."

Supporters are encouraged to sign the petition and help push for stronger preventative measures to protect future generations.

Please click here to view and sign the petition:
https://petitions.parliament.nz/1d2a1901-90d2-4506-149f-08dccae2e66c

Hamilton City Council is asking the community for feedback on a proposal to address a financial imbalance in alcohol licensing costs.

Currently, the fees set by legislation have not increased in more than 11 years and do not cover the full costs of licensing activities. As a result, ratepayers have been subsidising these costs by up to 29% and this is expected to grow year on year. Council is proposing to introduce an Alcohol Fees Bylaw that would reduce the ratepayer subsidy to 5%.

Consultation on the Draft Alcohol Fees Bylaw 2025 is open from 21 January – 25 February 2025 and is asking for feedback about reducing the ratepayer ‘top up’ needed to cover the costs of alcohol licensing.

The proposed Bylaw is the only way Council can change alcohol licensing fees and seeks to increase the fees by 34% in 2025/26, followed by 20% in 2026/27, and 3% annually thereafter.

Along with bringing the charges in line with the actual costs and inflation, the Draft Bylaw includes additional resource required from 2026/27 to manage demand.

Cory Lang, Council’s Regulatory Services Manager, said ratepayers shouldn’t have to top up the costs of alcohol licensing as much as they are now.

"Introducing the Bylaw would ensure those who use the alcohol licensing services contribute an appropriate share of the costs of licensing, education, monitoring, and enforcement," said Lang.

“The Council's proposal is about financial sustainability, it would move us much closer to a user-pays system. With costs expected to rise due to inflation and increased licensing activities, this Bylaw is a necessary measure to ensure that the Council can continue to provide essential services without as much reliance on the ratepayer to top up the costs.”

Hamiltonians and impacted businesses are encouraged to add their feedback to the mix.

For more information, and to have your say on the proposed Alcohol Fees Bylaw 2025, visit hamilton.govt.nz/haveyoursay 

A decision of the Auckland District Licensing Committee sends a strong message to alcohol retailers who engage in Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) services in retail alcohol outlets.

AfterPay is such a BNPL service, and it offers consumers the ability to be almost instantly approved with credit. This service being used for alcohol retail purchases has been an issue that has been raised before, most recently sparking concerns from a credit risk advisory firm.

An application for a renewal of a bottle store, Bottle-O Queens Road in Panmure, was opposed by the Council Licensing Inspector and the Medical Officer of Health, triggering a hearing in late November 2024.

In a reserved decision released yesterday, the Licensing Committee noted that the applicant had previously faced a ‘ flood’ of negative comment for having BNPL services, after which they withdrew the service.

On renewal of their alcohol licence the applicant rejected having a condition prohibiting BNPL suggested by the Council Licensing Inspector. The application was then opposed by the Inspector and Medical Officer of Health.

During the November hearing, it surfaced that the applicant was concerned about the ‘unfairness’ of the condition being applied to its licence and not being imposed on other premises offering BNPL.

The Licensing Committee looked to the provision of BNPL services that would be offered, and were of the opinion that the provision of that type of service would contribute to alcohol harm in the community, based on the evidence provided by the Inspector, the evidence given on behalf of the Salvation Army and Alcohol Healthwatch, and followed the lead of the Hamilton District Licensing Committee in dealing with similar matters.

The Licensing Committee gave a clear message to the alcohol licensing inspectorate, " The Committee has an expectation of the Inspectorate that they will bring any Applicant before the Committee on renewal of licences if that is the case. As we have said, the Committee considers that there is the potential for alcohol-related harm from any premises offering such services…".

Alcohol Healthwatch welcomes the decision of the Auckland District Licensing Committee, and further puts bottle stores on notice regarding BNPL services.

"We presented evidence in the hearing that shows the use of BNPL services to purchase alcohol at an apparent and often advertised low cost and no interest, increases its perceived affordability. This can lead to increased consumption and related harm," says Executive Director, Andrew Galloway.

Alcohol Healthwatch and the Salvation Army had both previously made public submissions on the Government’s review of Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Regulations calling for alcohol to be excluded from any BNPL services, citing extensive evidence of BNPL services adding another layer of harm related to alcohol.

The Salvation Army gave evidence in the November hearing, including that they had almost 200 clients that have significant BNPL debts amounting to almost $1000 per client. Evidence also included the fact that BNPL users often came from disadvantaged backgrounds. These clients were said to often struggle with multiple debts, poor financial literacy and face physical and mental health issues. Many were said to have been associated with significant family violence issues, struggling to break the cycle of addiction and poor financial habits.

"We are pleased to welcome the decision of the Auckland District Licensing Committee, and in particular the stern warning to any alcohol retailer that participating in BNPL for alcohol will likely see applicants face challenges from reporting agencies" says Andrew. 

"There is no place for buy now pay later schemes for Aotearoa New Zealand’s most harmful drug".  
 

Ordering alcohol online is more available than ever, and it is quick with rapid delivery under two hours. New research from Alcohol Healthwatch to be published in the New Zealand Medical Journal reveals that alcohol orders are able to be delivered without an identification (ID) check, and in many cases left unattended at the doorstep.

The study found that 73% of the alcohol orders were delivered with no ID check, and almost half (49%) were simply left unattended at the door.

"This poses many risks," says Sarah Sneyd, lead author and Health Promotion Advisor at Alcohol Healthwatch. "We’re talking about New Zealand’s most harmful drug being delivered within 30 minutes and left contactless for anyone to grab.

"Unfortunately, there’s no legal requirement for anyone to check ID when delivering alcohol. But New Zealanders expect a certain level of protection when it comes to alcohol sales, and that includes someone checking that it’s not being sold to children or intoxicated people. What we’re seeing with online alcohol deliveries is that most retailers are not doing either."

Speed of the deliveries was a key finding; the rapid delivery orders were made in under 30 minutes on average, with the fastest being made in only 17 minutes.

"You don’t even have to step outside your door now to have alcohol delivered to you very, very quickly," says Sneyd. "But we know from research that the easier it is to get alcohol, the more is consumed, and the more harm there is, including harm to others. For alcohol delivered to homes, this has major implications for family violence, child maltreatment, and continuing binge drinking sessions long after they would have otherwise wound up.

Combined with precious few regulations covering online marketing of harmful products, you now have a perfect storm; pocket money priced booze available and marketed on popular social media channels, meaning a bottle store can be in your pocket."

The findings are at odds with alcohol company’s policies on restricted items. Despite every company tested in this study saying they check ID on delivery, only two companies (UberEats and DoorDash), did this for every delivery. Most of the other company delivery drivers, including supermarket chain Woolworths (then Countdown) never checked ID.

"We can’t leave it up to companies to regulate themselves and check ID," says Sneyd. "Every company said they do this. But almost 90% of them aren’t doing it."

The study demonstrates that regulations are needed to address online alcohol delivery. Aotearoa New Zealand is one of the only OECD countries that does not have protections around the potential for increased harms from online alcohol delivery. Addressing the lack of age verifications and the speed of deliveries will leave communities with a better balance of convenience and safety.

"It’s high time for Aotearoa New Zealand to better manage the risks of alcohol delivery through developing national protections," says Sneyd.
 

E Tipu E Rea, a Māori health service dedicated to uplifting the wellbeing of mātua taiohi (young parents), stands firm in support of reducing the stigma around mental health and substance use for young Māori.

E Tipu E Rea operates within a Kaupapa Māori Support Framework, providing crucial services for mātua taiohi and hapū māmā (young parents and pregnant mothers) to create an environment where their tamariki can thrive including social services, employment assistance, parenting resources, and advocacy, all tailored to the unique needs of our community. As an organisation that fights daily to foster safe and supportive spaces for rangatahi, we believe it is crucial to view Māori perspectives on alcohol harm through a cultural and historical lens.

The recent backlash to Mike King’s statements on alcohol has sparked conversation across our hāpori, and we urge that his words be considered with an understanding of the enduring impacts of colonisation. Historical evidence shows that colonisation has significantly contributed to patterns of alcohol misuse within Māori communities. Systemic dislocation from land, culture, and identity has led to social and economic disparities, which, in turn, have been linked to increased rates of alcohol consumption as a coping mechanism.

Zoe Hawke, CEO of E Tipu E Rea, states "These views reflect the complex challenges that many mātua taiohi face in a society where alcohol is accessible on almost every street corner, but equitable, culturally safe services remains limited. We advocate for the development and expansion of kaupapa Māori services that holistically address mental health for rangatahi, recognising and addressing the deep-seated issues arising from cultural disconnection, systemic inequities, and intergenerational trauma. Substance use is often a response to these wider social determinants, and we must approach the issue with empathy rather than judgement".

To create meaningful change, we must shift focus toward reducing harm through a culturally grounded approach rather than reinforcing stigma. E Tipu E Rea calls for a commitment to funding and prioritising kaupapa Māori mental health services, which enable rangatahi to thrive within their cultural and socioeconomic context. It is only through empowering our communities that we can begin to address these complex challenges and foster the resilience and wellbeing of future generations.

Newly released factsheet titled Alcohol Causes Cancer by the Royal Society is a reminder that, like tobacco and asbestos, alcohol causes cancer.

The factsheet collates the breadth of evidence about alcohol and cancer to help communities make choices about their drinking.

Although the link between alcohol and cancer has been known for over 100 years and 4 in 5 New Zealanders drink alcohol, only 1 in 5 of us are aware that alcohol can cause cancer.

The factsheet also talks about how our environment can be improved to reduce alcohol-related cancers. This includes increasing the price of alcohol, reducing the availability of alcohol, and restricting its marketing.

"Drinking patterns are highly influenced by our environment," says Alcohol Healthwatch Health Promotion Advisor Sarah Sneyd. "Alcohol is freely available on street corners and through a click of a button on your phone, it’s cheaper today than it ever has been before, and there is so much advertising that we even see alcohol billboards outside primary schools. There is enormous pressure to drink, and unfortunately every drink increases the risk of seven different types of cancer."

Sneyd welcomes the report with hopes that it helps raise awareness of the links between alcohol and cancer, and how we can reduce the cancer burden.

"With increased environmental protections in our communities, not only will alcohol-related cancers decrease, we will also see fewer drink-driving accidents, less family violence, fewer children maltreated, and less violent crime. Everything we care about will start to improve."
 

Whānau are celebrating after hapori action prevented a new liquor store from opening next door to Te Teko Superette and Lunch Bar.

"We were incredibly relieved to receive the email from Whakatāne District Council that Tom and Jerry Wholesale had withdrawn their application for the proposed Te Teko Liquor store" said Yvonne Pryor (Ngāti Awa), secretary of Te Teko Residents Association.

"This means no more liquor store, no more hearing, and our community will be that much safer from all those harms and social challenges that come with waipiro."

Tom and Jerry Wholesale Limited notified their application to open a new full-service liquor store in September 2023. The application attracted 333 objections from community members in Te Teko, from across the motu, and even from whanaunga in Australia.

A hearing was scheduled to be held in Whakatāne over three days from 14-16 October, with 32 community members indicating they wished to speak to their objection.

"I would like to acknowledge the Whakatāne District Council and the District Licensing Committee for setting aside the time to hear from our community, and for making the proposed hearing accessible for those who wish to be heard remotely.

"Our community was also heartened that the Committee was enabling us to bring our tikanga and present our whakaaro in Te Reo Māori. While we feel relief that we do not have to continue our preparations for the hearing, we are grateful the Committee was prepared to be so accommodating.

"Ultimately, this proposal to bring a liquor store to our community, a short distance from our Kura and Kohanga, would have been detrimental to the welfare of whānau and hapori in Te Teko.

"When we met to organise against this application, it was clear that many of us, our tūpuna, and our mokopuna had experienced serious harms from waipiro.

"From road deaths due to drink driving, punch ups at parties, family violence, neglect and abuse of our beautiful children, and all the health consequences, waipiro has damaged us. With all this history of harm we know we don’t want a liquor store in Te Teko.

"We were prepared to take our mamae to the Committee, so that we could protect the next generation" Pryor said.