A bid to "allow pubs to open during early morning Rugby World Cup games" in New Zealand has been shot down by the Green Party, according to Isaac Davison of the NEW ZEALAND HERALD. Act Party leader David Seymour, who tabled the bill in Parliament, called the Greens "mean-spirited" and "opposed to fun" after the party "refused to grant leave to debate the legislation this afternoon." The Greens' objection meant the bill was "highly unlikely to be debated before the World Cup kicked off in September." However, the National-led Government indicated this afternoon it would "consider picking the bill up." Prime Minister John Key said a decision "would be made in the next 24 hours." Key: "In the end, the really simple message is of course of all these bars could apply [for special licences], but it's quite expensive and it's bureaucratic for them. For a one-off thing like this, rather than put everyone through this process I think it's simpler to try and find a way through it." National will consider "narrowing the legislation's scope so the policy only applied to All Black games and knockout rounds." The Prime Minister also said Greens' opposition was "par for the course" and the party was "always opposed to anything that vaguely good fun." Green Party health spokesperson Kevin Hague said that Act Party's legislation was a "cheap publicity stunt" and Seymour was "hijacking Parliament's time ... for a cheap gimmick." If the government introduced its own bill, Hague said Greens would "give due consideration to it." He said this option "was preferable because it would not delay private member's bills which were due to come before Parliament" (NZ HERALD, 8/11). ONE NEWS' Katie Bradford reported Greens said that it would result in "boozed-up people" spilling out of bars "while children were making their way to school." Seymour: "Shutting New Zealanders at home for this event seems like a mean-spirited affront to community freedoms." Labour leader Andrew Little is "also supportive of the idea, although his MPs will be able to conscience vote on the issue." Asked if he would want to drink
beer at 5am he said, "If we're winning, I probably wouldn't say no, if
we're losing I probably would have two beers at 5am" (ONE NEWS, 8/11).
