Other social issues

Gambling

The Ministry of Health has updated its problem gambling webpage so that it now includes problem gambling intervention client service user stats over 2006, 2007, and 2008, by Territorial Authority. This should be useful for social impact assessment in gambling venue policy reviews.  Click here

The final Preventing and Minimising Gambling Harm 2010 - 2016 document, summary of submissions and Ministry of Health responses are available.  Click here 

  

Alcohol

An Alcohol Reference Group (ARG) is used to inform and guide policy development, submissions, and good practice for the local government sector and Local Government New Zealand. The ARG has representatives from different roles in local government and from Local Government New Zealand, ALAC, SOLGM and the Ministry of Justice. It meets regularly to discuss good practice, areas of concern and other matters.

The ARG has been considering impacts for councils of the Law Commission's comprehensive review of the Sale of Liquor Act, discussed in its paper Alcohol in our Lives released for consultation in July and open for submissions until 30 October 2009 - available here.  Local Government New Zealand  has collated draft comments and sent them to councils seeking feedback. A key point we would expect many submitters to reinforce is the need to ensure new laws allow, and require, community views and density to be considered in decisions on granting and renewing licences.   

Local Government New Zealand made a submission on the Sale and Supply of Liquor and Liquor Enforcement Bill. The report back to the House of Representatives by the Justice and Electoral Committee has been deferred to 30 June 2010, to enable it to be considered in conjunction with the reveiw being undertaken by the Law Commission.

A number of councils have or are developing Local Alcohol Policies or Strategies.  ALAC has prepared some guidance to assist with this type of approach. Click here

ALAC held a pre-Conference workshop in May 2009 looking at how communities can do a great deal to reduce alcohol-related harm, local government's role and what might help make things happen. Summary notes are available here.   

 

Family Violence

Family Violence is a concern to all members of society, and many councils are supporting work to help reduce its effect on New Zealand communities.  

Waitakere City Council and the Ministry of Social Development's Family and Community Services group jointly developed a resource, launched at Local Government New Zealand's 2009 Conference, highlighting what some councils are doing to help reduce family violence in their communities.  

Other resources are available at:

Family Violence Campaign website

It's Not OK - Mayors Newsletter