1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,880 Speaker 1: A christ Church man has complained about a bar repeatedly 2 00:00:02,920 --> 00:00:04,640 Speaker 1: refusing to let him in because he had a man 3 00:00:04,680 --> 00:00:08,520 Speaker 1: bag on The man says that the Rockpool bar's policy 4 00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:10,680 Speaker 1: not to allow male patrons to bring their bags in 5 00:00:10,680 --> 00:00:13,480 Speaker 1: his homophobic, but the owner of the bar reckons that 6 00:00:13,600 --> 00:00:15,200 Speaker 1: the reason they only let them in is because people 7 00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:18,560 Speaker 1: can hide weapons in their bags. Steve Armitage is Hospitality 8 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:19,840 Speaker 1: New Zealand's chief executive. 9 00:00:19,880 --> 00:00:24,680 Speaker 2: Hey, Steve, hi, am I here in my capacity as 10 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:26,680 Speaker 2: hospital in New Zealand Sea or because I was the 11 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:28,400 Speaker 2: first person you thought of, who has a man bag? 12 00:00:28,680 --> 00:00:30,200 Speaker 1: Do you have a man What kind of man bag 13 00:00:30,240 --> 00:00:30,720 Speaker 1: do you have? 14 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:33,160 Speaker 3: I'd describe it as a satchel? 15 00:00:34,240 --> 00:00:37,280 Speaker 1: Is it like, have you got a leather satchel that 16 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:38,239 Speaker 1: hangs sort of hip height? 17 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:40,479 Speaker 3: There's probably faux lea. 18 00:00:40,680 --> 00:00:44,800 Speaker 1: Yes, you know, is this the bag you are? You 19 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:47,760 Speaker 1: are the classic man bag carrier in Auckland, you know, 20 00:00:47,880 --> 00:00:50,720 Speaker 1: so I would describe it slightly dandyish. So yes, we 21 00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:54,760 Speaker 1: did think of that, but it is do you make 22 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:56,600 Speaker 1: an effort? Have you had a chat to the bar 23 00:00:56,760 --> 00:00:57,840 Speaker 1: about the spoony chance? 24 00:00:58,840 --> 00:01:00,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, we have been in touch with that today. 25 00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:03,640 Speaker 2: I think the first thing to say is the venues 26 00:01:03,680 --> 00:01:05,800 Speaker 2: have the right to put restrictions in place to protect 27 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:08,319 Speaker 2: their customers and staff, but they obviously need to ensure 28 00:01:08,319 --> 00:01:11,720 Speaker 2: they're being applied consistently, so there's no suggestion of discrimination. 29 00:01:12,440 --> 00:01:14,840 Speaker 2: That is not the case here. The issue is about 30 00:01:14,840 --> 00:01:16,600 Speaker 2: what might be in the bag. It's certainly not about 31 00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:19,000 Speaker 2: the customer, and the venue has been clear as you've 32 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:21,440 Speaker 2: said that it's about health and safety and host responsibility 33 00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:23,920 Speaker 2: because they've had some issues recently around concealed drugs and 34 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:27,240 Speaker 2: other contraband. So there's no suggestion in the venue as 35 00:01:27,240 --> 00:01:30,080 Speaker 2: anything other than a very popular, inclusive venue just trying 36 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:31,720 Speaker 2: to do their best to provide a safe environment. 37 00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:33,560 Speaker 1: Did they tell you, Steve, what kind of a bag 38 00:01:33,600 --> 00:01:34,759 Speaker 1: this dude was trying to bring in? 39 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:38,440 Speaker 2: No, I haven't had a description of the bag, but 40 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 2: I have had some indication of the types of bags 41 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:43,319 Speaker 2: that have been coming in, another ones that you'd sort 42 00:01:43,319 --> 00:01:48,200 Speaker 2: of associate with gangs and the drugs that they tend 43 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:49,080 Speaker 2: to carry around in them. 44 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:51,920 Speaker 1: So I'm thinking, from my limited knowledge of gangs and 45 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:54,480 Speaker 1: drugs that what we're talking about is sort of like 46 00:01:55,480 --> 00:01:59,400 Speaker 1: Louis Verton little Gucci baggies, you know, little like Petite 47 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:01,480 Speaker 1: little person is that the guys like to wear or 48 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:06,840 Speaker 1: the fanny pack that they like to wear. It believe. 49 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:08,840 Speaker 2: I would not profess to be an expert in this 50 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:12,160 Speaker 2: yeah area, but yes, that's what I need to believe. 51 00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:13,840 Speaker 1: Okay, So you think they made the right call here. 52 00:02:15,040 --> 00:02:17,560 Speaker 2: Well, I think they're well within their rights to have 53 00:02:17,639 --> 00:02:19,800 Speaker 2: this policy in place. I think what they need to 54 00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:22,680 Speaker 2: make sure is that they've got clear signage and that 55 00:02:22,680 --> 00:02:25,080 Speaker 2: people are understanding why they're being refused. 56 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:25,480 Speaker 3: Entrue. 57 00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:28,440 Speaker 2: My concern was that there was some suggestion of discrimination, 58 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:30,359 Speaker 2: but I'm assured that that's not the case at all. 59 00:02:30,520 --> 00:02:30,560 Speaker 3: No. 60 00:02:30,720 --> 00:02:32,560 Speaker 1: Steve, Hey, listen, Thanks very much, Go and enjoy your 61 00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:34,760 Speaker 1: weekend and get rid of the satchel for the weekend 62 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:38,280 Speaker 1: and just relax at Steve Armitage Hospitality, New Zealand, Chief Executive. 63 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:41,919 Speaker 2: For more from Hither Duplicy Alan Drive, listen live to 64 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:45,040 Speaker 2: news talks. It'd be from four pm weekdays, or follow 65 00:02:45,080 --> 00:02:46,840 Speaker 2: the podcast on iHeartRadio.