By Duncan Garner
Wellington bar owners say drunk Maori will be specifically targeted during the World Cup, by a 50-year-old law that has been pulled from the archives by police and the city council.
The law allows Maori wardens to enter bars and remove drunk or violent Maori.
Many bar owners say it is a shameful, racist law and the Government now wants to take a look at it.
Courtenay Place will be the heart of Wellington's party central for the Rugby World Cup.
And police have dusted off a half century old law to help them police the crowds.
Bar owners say it is racist.
“I can't get my head around it and it is a racist law and I think it should be changed, and I can't understand it's still in the legislation,” says Wellington bar owner Jeremy Price.
Another bar owner, John Coleman, is just as worked up.
“It's disgraceful, disrespectful and racist I can't believe that they're doing this,” he says.
The wardens were trialled after the South Africa, All Blacks game in Wellington a fortnight ago - and they will be used around the country during the Rugby World Cup.
The police say the Maori wardens have been successful around the country and even though this is a first for Courtenay Place, they do intend to use them on a long term basis.
But they may not get their way, Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples says the law is outdated and he will review it.
“I'm sure it will be overhauled in terms of the duties, you are right the duties are old and they are written old,” he says.
When asked if the laws were separatism, Mr Sharples agreed.
“Under the act it strictly is, their responsibility is to be there for Maori.”
Bar owner Mr Coleman says the idea is “outrageous”.
“There should be an Indian warden, a Tongan warden, a Fijian warden, nah this is outrageous.”
The law means Maori wardens can stop the bar selling liquor to any Maori who appears to be drunk, violent, quarrelsome or disorderly or likely to become so.
And drunk or violent and potentially drunk Maori can be ordered from the bar by the Maori warden.
The Wellington City Council says it is just doing what the police want.
“We probably don't need Maori wardens in Wellington like they do in other parts of the country,” says councilor Robyn Steel.
Mr Coleman says they are not welcome in his bar.
“They will not be coming in here, they will not be coming in here,” he says.
Mr Sharples says he is now reviewing the law but any changes will not be in time for the Rugby World Cup.
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