By Torika Tokalau of Local Democracy Reporting
Aucklanders are being urged to vote for trustees for the five alcohol licensing trusts in the region, as the local elections loom.
The local elections will be held from September 9 – October 11, and while most of the attention will be on city councillors and mayoral hopefuls, voters will also decide who will lead their licensing trusts.
Auckland has five licensing trusts, with only two – Portage and Waitakere, collectively known as The Trusts – holding monopoly over certain types of alcohol licences in West Auckland.
Established in the country in the 1960s and 70s, the trusts model was set up as a community initiative to control the sale of alcohol, and decide how surplus profits are returned to the community.
The Trusts chief executive Allan Pollard said people don’t often realise that licensing trusts are included in the local elections.
“Licensing trusts are just the tip of the niche election iceberg,” Pollard said.
“When local elections roll around in, between these and the general election, you might think that’s more than enough democracy to fill your brain.
“But in reality, there are a number of other things you can vote on that most Kiwis don’t realise are on the table.”
Voting numbers for licensing trusts haven’t been strong. In the last local elections, less than 50% of registered voters selected their trustees.
Pollard said voter turnout for the last Waitākere Local Board election was 15,661 votes, approximately 40% of eligible voters.
He hopes that will change come September.
“Fundamentaly we all want what’s best for the community. People come at it from different angles and that’s democracy and at the end of the day, people will decide.”
He also hopes more young people will step up and consider being nominated for one of the 35 trustee positions vacant in the five licensing trusts.
The other trusts are Mt Wellington, Birkenhead and Wiri in south Auckland, who all manage and own hospitality venues and commercial real estate assets.
Together with proceeds from gaming machines, licensing trusts provide funding to community groups in their districts.
“New Zealand is home to a unique system of licensing trusts – community-owned entities that hold exclusive rights to sell alcohol in certain areas,” Pollard said.
While alcohol monopolies exist in other parts of the world, what makes the NZ model different was that it’s truly democratic and community-led, he said.
“In West Auckland, we’re mandated to operate off-licenses, hotels and taverns. A responsibility we take seriously weighing community benefit against accessibility and alcohol harm.
“Then, surplus profits from those retail and hospitality operations are reinvested back into the community.”
Pollard said the West Auckland trusts granted $1.1 million to 52 community-led initiatives across the district this year.
Nominations for the local elections, including licensing trusts, close on August 1.
Voting opens on September 11 and close on the noon of October 11.
Final results will be announced on October 13 to October 17.
