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Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee reveals raft of alcohol law changes

Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee reveals raft of alcohol law changes

The Government is proposing several changes to the laws governing the sale and supply of alcohol, including making it easier to allow bars to open during major sporting events.  Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee today unveiled proposed reform of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012, claiming it focuses on “restoring fairness and practicality to the system without compromising public safety”.  Among the changes, soon to be introduced to the House, was a “fairer” licensing process which would only allow objections to a licence application to come from those residing in the same council area.  It would also allow applicants a right of reply to any objectors.  The changes would enable hairdressers and barbers to supply small amounts of alcohol to customers without a licence, a change previously announced by the Government.  Premises like wineries, such as breweries and meaderies, and distilleries, would also be allowed to hold both on- and off-licences to support cellar door sales.  Digital identity credentials would be considered approved evidence of age for alcohol purchases under the new bill.  The reform also addressed calls for a simpler process to allow bars and other venues to open and serve alcohol outside their licensed hours during major sporting events.  It was an issue raised almost every time a sporting event like a World Cup was being held outside typical hours and would require the Government to pass special legislation each time to allow pubs to open.  McKee’s reform would enable the responsible minister to declare a “stand-alone exemption” to licensing requirements for national televised events.  This would be achieved through the Order in Council legal instrument, in which members of the executive advised the Governor-General to give effect to a government decision.  McKee’s bill was expected to be introduced to the House in the coming months and reach select committee by the end of the year.  Adam Pearse is the Deputy Political Editor and part of the NZ Herald’s Press Gallery team based at Parliament in Wellington. He has worked for NZME since 2018, reporting for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei and the Herald in Auckland.

Ombudsman compels Reserve Bank to reveal Adrian Orr agreed to resign if board’s letter of concerns was binned

Ombudsman compels Reserve Bank to reveal Adrian Orr agreed to resign if board’s letter of concerns was binned

The Ombudsman has forced the Reserve Bank to unveil pertinent information about circumstances around Adrian Orr’s sudden resignation as Governor on March 5.  The bank has revealed Orr temporarily stepped down as Governor on February 27, as tensions between him, the board, Treasury and Finance Minister Nicola Willis over government funding reached boiling point.  Christian Hawkesby became acting Governor on February 27, and Orr agreed to stay out of the office.  On the same day, board chair Neil Quigley wrote to Orr on behalf of the non-executive members of the board, outlining a series of concerns.  Quigley noted the “apparent lack of trust” between Orr, the board, Willis and Treasury.  He voiced his concern about the “tenor of dialogue” at meetings Orr had with Treasury officials on February 20 and Willis on February 24.  And, he questioned whether Orr would be able to do his job with less government funding than he deemed necessary.  Orr responded on March 3, rejecting the assertions in the letter, but agreeing there was a lack of trust between the parties.  He then resigned on March 5 on the condition the board withdrew the letter it sent him on February 27.  His “exit agreement” was approved and entered into on March 6.  When Quigley fronted media on March 5, he refused to detail what happened, other than to say the resignation was a “personal decision” made by Orr.  It wasn’t until June 11 that the Reserve Bank said Orr resigned because he disagreed with the board over the amount of government funding to pitch for.  The Reserve Bank provided details of the letter and exit agreement in the form of a summary timeline.  This is what the Ombudsman instructed it to do, after receiving numerous complaints (including from the Herald) over the Reserve Bank’s handling of information releases related to Orr’s departure.  The Ombudsman didn’t compel the Reserve Bank to release additional documents, including the exit agreement or the letter the board sent Orr on February 27. Indeed, the board and Orr agreed for this to be scrapped.  However, information previously released by the Treasury revealed Orr lost his cool in a meeting with a Treasury staffer on February 20 and then left a meeting he had with Quigley, Willis, Treasury chief executive Iain Rennie and other staff on February 24 early.  Another previously released document shows Quigley wanted details of the February 24 meeting kept under wraps.  He had a go at Treasury for taking detailed minutes of the meeting and releasing them under the Official Information Act (OIA).  Quigley concluded, “Apart from being late with our OIA responses, the approach we took in responding to OIA requests was a reasonable one to the requests and met the overall public interest by balancing transparency with privacy and other legitimate concerns.”  Orr has declined numerous requests for comment.  Willis has repeatedly expressed her disapproval over Quigley’s handling of the matter.  She has also repeatedly declined to shed light on what happened, saying it is a matter between Orr and the board.  This is despite Willis being the person who decides who is appointed Reserve Bank Governor and board chair.  There have been calls for Quigley, whose term ends on June 30, to resign.  The board is in the process of recommending who Willis should appoint Governor for a full term.  Jenée Tibshraeny is the Herald’s Wellington business editor, based in the parliamentary press gallery. She specialises in government and Reserve Bank policymaking, economics and banking.