Misinformation being used to oppose bars

The Post reports:

Molly Malones in Courtenay Place served its last beer in 2015, yet was one of the “just under 200” licensed premises health authorities used to justify opposition to a new central Wellington bar.

Te Whatu Ora Health NZ has released the full list of the 87 phantom licences – all either expired, for past one-off events, or now-closed venues – it originally claimed existed.

Medical Officer of Health Stephen Palmer said he never used the erroneous figure, which came from a shortfall in the computer system, when he objected to liquor licences to the Wellington City Council District Licensing Committee.

But two owners of multiple bars said health authorities cited the number before the official body, which decides on liquor licenses.

In early March, Te Whatu Ora, which confirmed it spent $22,750 opposing the licence for new bar Saint Diablo, justified its opposition to The Post because “the number of on-licences located within 500 metres of Saint Diablo is just under 200”.

When asked to supply a list of the 200 premises, a Te Whatu Ora spokesperson asked, “are you actually questioning that there aren’t 200 licensed premises in this region?”, before treating it as an Official Information Act request.

That eventual response showed there were just 142 premises within the radius – leaving 58 phantom licences. Te Whatu Ora has now released that list, which actually includes 87 premises.

They include Molly Malones, which closed in 2015, Strawberry Fare, closed since 2016, and Reading Cinemas, closed since 2019.

This is pretty disgraceful. These license hearing are quasi-judicial and the Medical Officer of Health has been supplying misinformation which is nine years out of date, and exaggerates the number of licenses by around 40%.

The MOHs are given special status under the law to submit on alcohol licenses. If they use false information, they should lose that status.