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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/01/the-town-saying-no-to-more-alcohol-residents-of-murupara-fight-off-licence
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| The town saying 'no' to more alcohol: residents of Murupara fight off-licence | The town saying 'no' to more alcohol: residents of Murupara fight off-licence |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Residents of an impoverished Māori town in rural New Zealand are planning to stage a protest against the opening of a proposed liquor store, claiming their community does not need more alcohol and the problems that it brings. | Residents of an impoverished Māori town in rural New Zealand are planning to stage a protest against the opening of a proposed liquor store, claiming their community does not need more alcohol and the problems that it brings. |
| Murupara, on the North Island, is home to less than 2,000 people, a third of whom are younger than 15. | Murupara, on the North Island, is home to less than 2,000 people, a third of whom are younger than 15. |
| Related: New Zealand tobacco crackdown labelled racist to Māori | Related: New Zealand tobacco crackdown labelled racist to Māori |
| The town, which has been in decline for decades, has a population that is 90% Māori and whose median income is just NZ$17,000 (£8,000) per annum. | The town, which has been in decline for decades, has a population that is 90% Māori and whose median income is just NZ$17,000 (£8,000) per annum. |
| Murupara has long been plagued by social problems, including alcohol abuse and domestic violence, and unemployment stands at 27%, according to the 2013 census. | Murupara has long been plagued by social problems, including alcohol abuse and domestic violence, and unemployment stands at 27%, according to the 2013 census. |
| Memorie Jenner, a Māori elder who works as a youth and drugs co-ordinator, has lived in the area her whole life. | Memorie Jenner, a Māori elder who works as a youth and drugs co-ordinator, has lived in the area her whole life. |
| Jenner said the community’s efforts to shake off its bad reputation, including drug and alcohol-free film nights and sporting events, will be in vain if the liquor store gets the go-ahead from the local council. | Jenner said the community’s efforts to shake off its bad reputation, including drug and alcohol-free film nights and sporting events, will be in vain if the liquor store gets the go-ahead from the local council. |
| “We are a high-deprivation area, we have low-decile schools and high needs families,” said Jenner. | “We are a high-deprivation area, we have low-decile schools and high needs families,” said Jenner. |
| “The people who support this store are not the ones who have been picking up the pieces for years. Our tiny town has been in decline for so long - the last thing we need is a booze shop right where all the kids play.” | “The people who support this store are not the ones who have been picking up the pieces for years. Our tiny town has been in decline for so long - the last thing we need is a booze shop right where all the kids play.” |
| The town’s pub, the Murupara Hotel, has an off-licence, but Jenner says it is well controlled, and the new liquor outlet would sell alcohol at cut-rate prices right in the centre of town. | |
| The Murupara Store, which has applied for the off-licence, said it had no comment on the proposed expansion. | The Murupara Store, which has applied for the off-licence, said it had no comment on the proposed expansion. |
| “Any liquor outlet needs to be enforced,” Jenner said. | “Any liquor outlet needs to be enforced,” Jenner said. |
| “At night we have only one policeman who patrols seven communities in this area, up to three hours away. If something happens, you can’t get help quickly. This store will mean more money for booze and less food on the table for families.” | “At night we have only one policeman who patrols seven communities in this area, up to three hours away. If something happens, you can’t get help quickly. This store will mean more money for booze and less food on the table for families.” |
| A peaceful protest against the store will be held on Friday, when a public hearing on the off-licence is scheduled to take place in the town. | A peaceful protest against the store will be held on Friday, when a public hearing on the off-licence is scheduled to take place in the town. |
| A petition against the liquor store has received over 400 signatures. The council is due to make its decision in three weeks’ time. | A petition against the liquor store has received over 400 signatures. The council is due to make its decision in three weeks’ time. |