Chillin' like a villain

Feeling a bit overstimulated here in Wellington, or maybe like I need a bit of a break. Just been chilling this morning, and not really doing much.

Thursday (yesterday) was a beautiful day out, and I went down to the Queen's Wharf and did a bit of climbing at the gym there. I met a few other climbers and got to try out some fun overhang, top rope climbing. One guy gave me an intro to his wife, who I will climb with at 5 p.m. today. After climbing I headed out over to Parliament to catch them in session for the last day this week (and their first week back in session since last month). They were discussing the Alcohol Reform Bill, which is a very interesting proposed bill.

I got to sit in the public gallery, which is right above the MPs. It has a bunch of strange rules. For example, you can't lean on the railing, you can't take off your sweater and leave it inside, it either must be worn, or hung on a rack outside for security purposes. You can't put anything on the railing, nor stand up either. With those rules in place, it's hard to see all the members without shifting significantly in your seat, which is what I did, annoying the security/usher peoples quite a bit, I'm sure.

After very heated roughly 2.5 hour discussion, Parliament voted 119 to 3, to pass the bill on through the first of three total stages to become law. Just a quick background: A Law Commission report on NZ's alcohol consumption came out in April of this year surveyed the public over a few months, coming to the conclusion that 70% of New Zealanders think alcohol consumption is out of control and that multiple --somewhat drastic -- measures should be taken; the report gave 153 possible measures to be taken. The bill that came out to address this issue was largely slammed by many of the MPs for not being strong enough (and a good many members of Parliament even argued for a Prohibition-esque law!).

The thing is, drinking in New Zealand, with its population of 4.4 million, is only slightly higher (per capita) than drinking in the States, and far below comparative levels in many European countries. In any case, this bill will go in for public comment and will now be reviewed by the Select Committee over the next several months. Its proposals include raising the drinking age to 20 for store purchases (from 18). Creating liquor bans in supermarket and school parking lots, and subsequently giving law enforcement officers broader powers to question individuals who might have alcohol with them -- and also gain addresses and information about others with them. Law makers would also review and tighten up liquor licenses as well as place restrictions on the type of marketing allowed to especially prevent ads geared toward minors. This is the first review of the alcohol law since New Zealand liberalized its drinking policies in 1989, swinging the consumption policy more toward Europe. Many New Zealanders now say it's gone too far.

It's interesting but throughout NZ there are "alcohol free" zones advertised in various public areas. Politicians criticize the food and grocery lobby here for the plunging prices of alcohol and for the sell of beer and wine near the fronts of the stores, but truly -- at least compared to the States -- it does not seem to be markedly cheaper here (in many bars it's far more expensive), nor more high profile.

There was a lot of high rhetoric used, and a 30 minute conversation ensued when MP Anderton made a comment asking how much the alcohol lobby was donating to the National Party's victory coffers to get such a watered down bill (paraphrase). The National party is the current party in power aka "the government." Some National party MPs said that Anderton had made a misstep by making allegations as opposed to actually asking a question. The Speaker made various rulings on the issue trying to break up the hubbub (members regularly yell at each other from across the aisle while one is trying to speak). The Speaker appealed to "free speech" multiple times, but then one National MP said he was setting a dangerous precedent of allowing any question to be used as a backhand commentary; for example, if he asks if MP Anderton is senile and maybe he should think about retiring, is that OK? (No joke, an actual example.) Anyway, at the end MP Anderton rephrased his question and just asked if any money had been given to the National party, and if so, how much. The response was not on the record, and included one National MP mouthing somewhat quietly, "not to my knowledge." An interesting discussion.

After my time at Parliament I walked back through the city and got a Silver Warehou Fish and Chips, at the seafood market. I found a park area and devoured the meal...yum. Then it was back to the hostel to get ready for "Me and Robert McKee," a play at the local Circal Theater. If it had not been about a writer and the ironic somewhat downward spiral of his life, I am not sure I would have liked it. But since it was, and included a lot of writer jokes, as well as started with an appeal to a supposed class of writers, to consider another profession, I found it quite interesting.

When the show finished up I ended up walking back toward the hostel, stopping at the "Ponderosa" bar to listen to a local group play live music outside. It was really a great group, playing a bunch of perfect summer night covers.Two guys and a girl, all on guitars of various types. The bouncer and I got to chatting, and he got me a drink and brought me over a chair out on the sidewalk, so I could chill. Apparently their bar has a license to sell alcohol through to 6 a.m., and most bars in Wellington could technically sell alcohol 24/7. Supermarkets, however, can't sell alcohol after 10 p.m. apparently, nor can they serve hard liquor, corner "dairy markets" can however. On Saturday nights apparently the streets are booming with people walking about, many pretty sloshed. What I saw Thursday at 9 p.m. when I walked out of that play was an already pretty bumping bar scene. Is this was the MPs were so worried about? They seemed to think New Zealand's youth and young adults had become a country of hard-core drinkers. I don't know...Anyway, after a bit of time, I walked the final blocks to my place. Wellington is an awesome city -- not too big, not too small, lots of culture, on the water, near the mountains, and we've been blessed with good weather while I'm here. I'll be sad to go, but I will be happy to get back out and about in the countryside. Cities are great for living, but for travels, I think the great outdoors, the mountains and the seaside/oceanside, offer a lot more.