Aussies say we're full of XXXX

A scene from Once Were Warriors. Photo / Supplied

It's the country that can't even spell beer - across the Tasman there is even a brand called XXXX.

And yet a leading Australian newspaper has highlighted drinking problems in New Zealand by casting South Auckland as the epicentre of alcohol's evils.

Sydney Morning Herald journalist Tim Dick said South Auckland was still just like the movie Once Were Warriors.

"Sandwiched between an international airport and a sewage treatment plant, its people are mostly Pacific Islanders and Maori and mostly poor. And the suburbs remain as sodden with alcohol as they did in the film.

"Like Sydney and Newcastle and cities across Australia, South Auckland, or Manukau, faces a battle with the booze."

Dick used South Auckland to highlight the debate in New Zealand over liquor laws and youth binge drinking.

Manukau mayor Len Brown agreed there were social problems in Manukau but said it was not alone. "Alcohol is a big problem in all our communities. We need to change people's attitude to alcohol and give communities more of a say over liquor outlets."

Auckland City mayor John Banks said the country had far-reaching drinking problems. "I have no doubt that most of it is driven by neighbourhood booze access next to the corner dairy," he said.

"As soon as Parliament delivers on the new liquor legislation we're going to have to seriously push back on retail liquor outlets right across Auckland, with a major focus on Manukau."