4. RAHUI KATENE (Māori Party—Te Tai Tonga) Link to this
to the Minister of Justice
What strategies have been introduced to respond to evidence that over the past decade Māori drinking prevalence rates have now reached the same level as non-Māori, and yet Māori report higher unmet needs for reducing alcohol consumption?
Hon SIMON POWER (Minister of Justice) Link to this
The primary strategy that this Government has introduced is the whole-of-Government Drivers of Crime strategy. Reducing alcohol-related harm is one of the four priority areas of the Drivers of Crime strategy.
Does he agree with the Law Commission that a new Act, an Alcohol Harm Reduction Act, is required; and how will Māori solutions be included and community ownership sought in developing a new Act to address inequalities such as the fact that Māori women suffer more adverse effects as a result of other people’s drinking than any other subgroup by ethnicity and gender?
Legislative change in the areas covered by the Law Commission’s report tabled today is likely. In the event that legislation in the area of alcohol is on its way to Parliament, then all New Zealanders, including those who have specific issues around harm-related matters, will have the opportunity to make submissions during the course of any legislative changes, if that is the wish of Parliament.