Henare O'Keefe has incurred costs of over $8000 after his unsuccessful bid to stop a renewed liquor licence in Flaxmere. Photo File
Henare O'Keefe has incurred costs of over $8000 after his unsuccessful bid to stop a renewed liquor licence in Flaxmere. Photo File
Henare O'Keefe is now a one-man band in his legal opposition to a renewed liquor licence in Flaxmere.
Once forming a formidable duo with kaumatua Des Ratima, the two incurred a large legal bill aftertheir unsuccessful bid to appeal Flaxmere Liquor's licence renewal.
Ratima's recent passing means O'Keefe, a Hastings district councillor, has been ordered to pay court costs of $8194.
He's refusing to pay on "principle". "I'm more than willing to go to prison."
Earlier telling the hearing his suburb was suffering from an "alcohol Holocaust", his appeal fell over following the inability to secure appropriate affidavits from police and Hawke's Bay District Health Board.
What this means for the liquor store awarded costs is that it will see the money only if it takes O'Keefe back to court.
Flaxmere Liquor could choose to not pursue costs awarded against Henare O'Keefe, writes Mark Story. Photo File
While it's heartening to see such rare and unbridled courage of conviction, principled stands also bring into question the principle of paying one's debts.
The two-man force rolled the dice, and lost. As result, Flaxmere Liquor is now out of pocket.
Litigation (principled or otherwise) always carries a risk of failure, particularly when you do battle with the powerful alcohol lobby. These were risks both were aware of.
Ultimately, O'Keefe will never pay. Neither will he ever go to jail – he's too well-loved for this to ever go past the point of an anonymous donation or two to let him off the hook.
What we should be grateful for is that his stance has again underscored what we're up against.
Because despite decades of high-flown rhetoric on the grave ills of alcohol-related harm from both police and the district health board, neither could do anything to assist.
It's paradoxical given O'Keefe's lauded and highly courageous coalface work assists both those organisations.
Let's be thankful for that timely perspective; it affords some insight into his frustration.
Here's hoping Flaxmere Liquor will also take a stand - and forget to pursue these costs.