February 2020

Alex Nikara is outraged.  The Ngaruawahia resident and volunteer firefighter has uncovered an Auckland businessman’s plans to turn the unused Herschel Street Diary into Ngaruawahia’s third off-licence liquor store.

An off-licence liquor store is a shop which sells alcoholic beverages intended to be consumed off the store's premises.  Ngaruawahia currently has two off-licence liquor stores, two supermarkets which sell liquor and several licenced bars and restaurants.

Mr Nikara, who lives next door to the Herschel Street Dairy, says he was shocked when a “businessman” approached him and revealed plans to remove the dairy and turn the site into a bottle shop.  Mr Nikara has started a petition against the bottle shop, which he expects to gather plenty of signatures, based on the outpouring of support he’s had on social media from community members agreeing with his stance.

“I am absolutely opposed to the bottle shop,” says Mr Nikara. “First of all, I’m an alcoholic and if they put a shop there, I’m going to have to rob it. 

“But it’s not just about me.  I’m worried about the community.  There’s a kindergarten nearby, a retirement village down the side street and the fire station is right across the road.  This could cause congestion and get in the way in an emergency.  Not only that but we already have enough places to buy alcohol.  We just can’t let this happen in our town.”

The businessman in question is Yadwinder Butter, a Property Manager from Auckland, who is working on behalf of a client who wants to use the building as a liquor outlet.  Mr Butter says he is surprised to hear there’s opposition to the idea.

“I don’t know anything about the petition,” he says.  “I asked at one house which is on the left of the premises but I didn’t see anyone having a problem.  I am quite confused by this.  I did not know anyone would be opposed to it.”

Waikato District Council Ngāruawāhia Ward Councillor, Eugene Patterson, says the Local Alcohol Policy, effective since 2017, should prevent the proposed new bottle store from opening.

“Our policy states very clearly that the number of off-licences in town is capped at the number existing at the date the policy came into force.  In 2017 Ngaruawahia had two off-licence premises and they still have two.  Under that policy, I would doubt that this would gain any traction at all.

“I agree with the comments being bandied around from the community.  We do not need another off-licence in our town and we definitely do not need one in Herschel street right smack in the middle of all of our housing area.  I was quite astonished really, that people were thinking along those lines.”

Mr Patterson says he’s impressed with the Ngaruawahia community’s “quick and excellent” response to the issue. 

“It’s good they’re organising a petition because it just makes it very clear to everybody involved this is not wanted in our community…  It’s a fantastic community.”

“I’ve spoken with councillor Gibb [the other Ngaruawahia Ward Councillor] about it as well and we very much support the community’s attitude on this.”