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JO MOIR
Last updated 11:56, August 11 2015
Prime Minister John Key says it's possible the Government will pick up David Seymour's bill to keep pubs open during the Rugby World Cup if it gets voted down in Parliament.
On Tuesday, the ACT leader will table a bill that seeks to allow bars and function rooms nationwide to open for early morning matches during next month's World Cup in Britain.
If passed, the new law would give bar-owners flexibility they don't have under existing rules.
ACT leader David Seymour thinks every Kiwi should be able to have a beer at the pub and watch the All Blacks during the Rugby World Cup.
While the Epsom MP was prepared to limit the law to just All Blacks games he's fairly confident there won't be any objections to the bill.
Key said there's definitely logic behind the bill and it's perfectly acceptable that some New Zealanders like to congregate at the pub to watch the All Blacks.
Caucus would discuss the bill before heading to the House but Key said it was likely there would be a range of views from MPs.
Key said if the bill fell at the first hurdle it was a "possibility" it would be picked up as a Government bill.
"It's quite wide-ranging. Whether it stays that wide-ranging, we'd have to look at that."
Labour's caucus was also planning to discuss the bill but leader Andrew Little personally supported it.
"There's hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders who enjoy a tipple, usually when watching sporting games and they do so responsibly.
"This is a tournament that happens once every four years and it's totally in keeping with social intercourse that they have a drink."
Little said if he was in a pub at 5am and the All Blacks were winning he wouldn't say no to a drink.
"If we're losing I'd probably have two beers at 5am."
United Future leader Peter Dunne wouldn't object to the bill although the basis of that decision had nothing to do with his Irish Catholic heritage - something Seymour said was bound to see him vote in favour of pubs staying open.
"It's certainly true that I have a number of publicans in my background but it's actually more simple than that."
Dunne said there was no argument when it came to All Blacks games and given the number of Kiwis who turned out to watch them it made sense that they be able to do so at the pub.
Where there might be some debate was if pubs thought it was appropriate to be open during less significant games.
"Take Georgia versus Namibia for example, I'm not sure it should extend that far."
MPs' views on the bill were varied with Labour's Damien O'Connor saying he didn't think it should be a priority for Government, while his colleague Peeni Henare said he was a fan of having a beer while watching the rugby.
If pub hours didn't get extended Henare said people were welcome to watch the game at his house.
National ministers were tight-lipped on what their personal view was and Labour's David Parker hadn't thought about the bill but said he was in bed before 5am these days.
Seymour expected NZ First to support it given its leader, 70-year-old Winston Peters, had been given time off Parliament to travel with the parliamentary rugby team as media manager.
"Not only did he campaign on common sense but he can hardly support keeping New Zealand pubs shut at the very time he will almost certainly be in British ones," Seymour said.
The Green Party loved a "good community gathering" and "being seen to let the country have fun will help their growth strategy," he said.
The Maori Party was also expected to back it, given it would go against the Treaty of Waitangi's guarantee of "unqualified exercise of their chieftainship over their lands, villages and all their treasures" if they didn't, Seymour said.
The Rugby World Cup - beginning on September 18 - was being held in England and Wales and while some All Blacks matches would be broadcast at 9am, when bars were were already allowed to be open, others would be screened between 1am and 8am.
Seymour said England had instituted similar legislation during the 2014 Football World Cup in Brazil, to great success.
Providing there were no objections to the bill, Seymour said the first reading would be set down for Wednesday before being sent to select committee for a short period.
He hoped the bill would pass into law before the World Cup begins.
"Our hospitality industry does a great job of feeding us, watering us and entertaining us and gives us safe environments for having fun.
"Let's make it possible for these facilities to be used by those that want to use them.
"For most it will be an opportunity to enjoy some rugby matches in a boisterous group, probably get served a large breakfast at half time, with lots of coffee and the occasional New Zealand brew," Seymour said.
GAMES OUTSIDE OF TRADING HOURS
NZ v Argentina, 3.45am (NZ time), Sept 21.
NZ v Namibia, 7am, Sept 25.
NZ v Georgia, 8am, Oct 3.
NZ v Tonga, 8am, Oct 10.
Final, 5am, Nov 1.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/poli...orld-cup-games
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