Deaths prompt city council to consider more liquor bans

A makeshift shrine in the spot in Otahuhu where two men have died. Picture / Paul Estcourt

Auckland City Council has agreed to look at liquor bans in Otahuhu and Onehunga following two deaths in the area in the past few weeks.

Mayor Dick Hubbard told a community meeting in Otahuhu yesterday that the council would look at bans similar to the existing ones in the central city and Glen Innes, provided that enough police officers were available to enforce new bans.

Manukau Mayor Sir Barry Curtis called last week for a ban in Otahuhu, saying that a ban in neighbouring Mangere had simply shifted street drinking across the city boundary into Otahuhu.

Father-of-three Faafetai Lafolua was dragged under a car for 2.4km to his death last week in the same spot another man was killed last month.

Auckland Deputy Mayor Bruce Hucker said Auckland City would now review the whole issue. "It will be useful to have more [bans], but we need to do it in a carefully planned way working with the communities concerned," he said.

"If we have to do that in Otahuhu, we'd also need to look at Onehunga."

More than 50 people attended yesterday's meeting, called by local MP Mark Gosche to set up a network of community groups and to make sure Otahuhu gets its fair share of resources for South Auckland's youth gang problems.

The manager of the area's new council-owned recreation centre, Shamila Unka, said she put new proposals to local schools yesterday which she hoped would cut costs enough for them to resume after-school sports at the centre next term.

Mr Gosche said police said more officers would be allocated to the area.