Banks shifts stance to support 4am closing

John Banks. Photo / Herald on Sunday

Super City mayoral candidate John Banks has dropped support for 24-hour drinking in central city bars, and now supports 4am closing.

Two years ago, the Auckland City Mayor said the city "won't be shut down" after police concerns over all-night drinking.

"The police want us to shut the city down. That's not going to happen ... this is an international city," he said.

But yesterday, he said he had come to the conclusion that not much good came from having bars open from 4am to 8am. "I have been listening to the voice of the people and I'm prepared to listen to what Parliament has to say.

"If it means having premises closed at 4am then so be it," he said.

Government plans for hours of 8am to 4am for on-licence premises would affect about 250 downtown businesses with 24-hour liquor licences.

The central city is the only place in Auckland where alcohol is widely available around the clock.

Mr Banks said an issue he had in 2008 was the problems created from closing liquor outlets at the same time.

Police originally supported 24-hour licensing and lowering the drinking age from 20 to 18, he said.

Auckland City area police commander Inspector Andrew Coster said there was significant disorder and violence in central Auckland from excessive drinking over long periods.

"There is very little good that occurs on the streets of Auckland after 3am under the current regime."

Mr Coster said there were problems with people coming into central Auckland from other parts of the city already partly intoxicated, sometimes drink-driving, and then drinking more.

The other Super City mayoralty heavyweight, Manukau Mayor Len Brown, said there was some logic to closing bars at 4am.