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) with members from councils, Local Government New Zealand, the Alcohol Liquor Advisory Council (ALAC), the Society of Local Government Managers (SOLGM) and the Ministry of Justice meets regularly to inform and guide policy development, submissions, and good practice for the local government sector. 

This group has assisted in developing a sector submission on the Law Commission's Alcohol In Our Lives discussion paper prepared as part of the Commission's comprehensive review of the Sale of Liquor Act.  Submissions closed at the end of October 2009, and about 3000 submissions were received.  A copy of Local Government New Zealand's submission will appear on our website soon.

The Law Commission is due to present its recommendations to Parliament in late April 2010.  It is expected the Government will respond quickly with draft legislation.  The ARG will next meet when the Commission's recommendations are available.

Local Government New Zealand  also 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 Select Committee has been deferred to 30 June 2010, to enable it to be considered in conjunction with the Law Commission's review.

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

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.

The next ALAC Conference "Working Together - Taking Action" will take place in Auckland from 6-7 May 2010.  Click here for more information.

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