The Editor
Bay of Plenty Times
Dear Sir
'Well done' to the Liquor Licensing Authority for closing down the Omanu Omanu Wines & Spirits liquor store, and congratulations to Sgt Nigel McGlone and the other licensing agencies for their tenacity in bringing about this outcome. This store has been a blight in our community and is well-known for selling alcohol to under 18s.
I also want to applaud the positive efforts being made by the majority of liquor stores, including the big liquor chains and supermarkets, through the Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty Off-Licence Alcohol Accord. This initiative is a partnership between the retailers, the monitoring and enforcement agencies, and the community health promotion sector. OLAA as it is known promotes responsible retailing of alcohol, and in particular, supports campaigns aimed at raising awareness about the risks and harm that arise from the sale and supply of alcohol to teens. The members will be pleased with this latest outcome because it contradicts everything they stand for. I want to encourage the retailers to keep lifting their game because that will help expose the dodgy and illegal operators who bring the business into disrepute.
Michael Mills
Tauranga Safe City Coordinator
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
Tragic end to a blossoming life
1,500 people attended the funeral of Samantha Mouat at Baypark Stadium last week. Sam as she was known, aged 15 yrs, died in a freak accident while racing her ministock car at a track in Kaikohe over Easter. Sam was described as 'a giving generous person', who was 'kind, caring, sweet and beautiful' and who had 'more energy than anyone'.
Sam had a love-affair with her ministock and was the only girl in the engineering class at her school. She was supported in her sport by her family and many friends. At a time when 'boy-racers' are grabbing the headlines for all the wrong reasons, Sam and her family pursued her passion through organised motorsport: which is absolutely the correct thing to do. The tragedy is that despite the safety compliance, and all the resources at the race track, Sam's life was lost.
New Zealand has a long tradition and love of motorsport as evidenced by the crowds that will flock to the V8s in Hamilton this weekend; and to the International Rally of NZ in a few weeks time. I have been to both these events and others, not because I am a true petrolhead, but because there is something stimulating and thrilling about the noise and speed and smell and inherent danger. I have friends approaching retirement who still race their mini at meetings up and down the country, even after major heart surgery!
New Zealand has had the blackest Easter road toll in years (11 fatalities), and for every preventable death on our roads the Police and other authorities lament the lack of common sense and simple safety precautions. The statistics show that young drivers remain at greatest risk of causing or experiencing injury or death, particularly when fueled by alcohol or other substances.
My sincerest sympathy goes to Sam's parents who did the best for their baby girl, but now must feel that it was not enough. My advice to other parents who face the challenges of teenagers and motorsport is not to be put off by this tragedy. It is still preferable that they do so in an organised environment whether that be karting, ministocks, motorcross... whatever, rather than mindlessly and dangerously in uncontrolled situations that frequently create a public nuisance and at other times end in disaster.
Sam had a love-affair with her ministock and was the only girl in the engineering class at her school. She was supported in her sport by her family and many friends. At a time when 'boy-racers' are grabbing the headlines for all the wrong reasons, Sam and her family pursued her passion through organised motorsport: which is absolutely the correct thing to do. The tragedy is that despite the safety compliance, and all the resources at the race track, Sam's life was lost.
New Zealand has a long tradition and love of motorsport as evidenced by the crowds that will flock to the V8s in Hamilton this weekend; and to the International Rally of NZ in a few weeks time. I have been to both these events and others, not because I am a true petrolhead, but because there is something stimulating and thrilling about the noise and speed and smell and inherent danger. I have friends approaching retirement who still race their mini at meetings up and down the country, even after major heart surgery!
New Zealand has had the blackest Easter road toll in years (11 fatalities), and for every preventable death on our roads the Police and other authorities lament the lack of common sense and simple safety precautions. The statistics show that young drivers remain at greatest risk of causing or experiencing injury or death, particularly when fueled by alcohol or other substances.
My sincerest sympathy goes to Sam's parents who did the best for their baby girl, but now must feel that it was not enough. My advice to other parents who face the challenges of teenagers and motorsport is not to be put off by this tragedy. It is still preferable that they do so in an organised environment whether that be karting, ministocks, motorcross... whatever, rather than mindlessly and dangerously in uncontrolled situations that frequently create a public nuisance and at other times end in disaster.
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