The decision to keep the drinking age at 18 has come under fire from community leaders.
The alcohol purchasing age was finally put in front of MPs after it was lowered in 1999 and, just after 6pm yesterday, they decided against raising it. Tauranga MP Simon Bridges, New Zealand First list MP Brendan Horan and Bay of Plenty MP Tony Ryall all voted to raise the age to 20 but were outnumbered.
The outcome has disappointed a Tauranga high school principal and doctor. Otumoetai College principal Dave Randell said most MPs had voted irresponsibly.
"I'm disappointed. I think we have this poor binge-drinking culture and we keep saying about our road deaths, and I actually think it's irresponsible of our government not to raise [the alcohol purchasing age] up to 20," he told the Bay of Plenty Times.
Mr Randell said research showed that people two years younger than the legal age regularly bought alcohol.