Mike King: Gumboot Friday founder and mental health advocate labels proposed alcohol ban at Dunedin event 'overreach'

The founder of Gumboot Friday has voiced his disapproval with authorities banning alcohol from a Dunedin event.

Police are looking to stop a suicide prevention charity for applying for a temporary liquor license ahead of a fashion show designed to raise awareness.

Mike King says this move is 'classic overreach'.

"This is a bunch of young, polytech students who have a fashion show where they want to raise awareness and funds for a local suicide prevention trust. It has nothing to do with the trust - this is just an avenue for young people who care about the well-being of other people."

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Heather dupless Ellen.

Speaker 2 (00:02):
Welcome to get involved. Nine two nine two is the
text number. Standard text fees apply now. Police in New
Zealand are trying to stop a suicide prevention charity from
getting a temporary liquor license for a fundraiser this weekend.
Both the police and a licensing inspector have opposed the
organizer's application for a license, so there's going to be
a special hearing on Friday, which is less than twenty
four hours before the event, to see if alcohol can

(00:23):
be served. The coppers say the problem they've got with
this particular fundraiser serving alcohol is that there is a
link between alcohol and suicide, so it's inappropriate for alcohol
to be provided at a suicide prevention event. Mike King
is not involved in this event, but he is a
mental health advocate, so he's got views on this and
he's with us.

Speaker 1 (00:40):
Now, Hey, Mike, Hey, Heather, Hell are you well mate?
A man?

Speaker 3 (00:46):
The Moral Police got a band putting at Heart Foundation
gigs now.

Speaker 2 (00:51):
Probably probably if there are people who care enough about it.
So like me, I'm assuming that, like me, you think
this is ridiculous.

Speaker 1 (00:58):
From the cops, it is ridiculous. So look, let's get
it straight right from the get go. This isn't about
the Suicide Prevention Trust.

Speaker 3 (01:06):
This is a bunch of young polytech students who have
a fashion show where they want to raise awareness and
funds for a local suicide Prevention trust.

Speaker 1 (01:18):
It has nothing to do with the trust.

Speaker 3 (01:22):
This is just an avenue for young people who care
about the wellbeing of other people, an opportunity for them
to raise funds. And this is the you know, this
is the moral police coming in and going Alcohol and
suicide they are intrinsically linked and they shouldn't be together.

Speaker 1 (01:42):
Well, using that same logic, then.

Speaker 3 (01:44):
Do the AA no longer have alcohol at their functions
because we know that alcohol is intrinsically linked to car crashes.

Speaker 1 (01:52):
You know, it's where does this stop?

Speaker 3 (01:55):
This is this is classic over each and these What
is it saying young people in this country who are
trying to make a difference by raising funds for this
locals Suicide Prevention Trust.

Speaker 1 (02:07):
What is it saying to them? What is a message
we're giving to this.

Speaker 2 (02:10):
Mike, And let's be honest about it. The cops have
probably if they oppose this, that they will make sure
that these young people raise less money because if we're
honest about it. Alcohol actually raises money for things like
this at fundraises, doesn't it.

Speaker 1 (02:23):
One hundred percent? And if you dig down, I think
you'll find.

Speaker 3 (02:28):
That the majority of the police who are making this
decision think it's stupid as well. But we're living in
so much fear of backlash that you go, oh, well.

Speaker 1 (02:37):
It's just easier not to you know, just easier to
say no.

Speaker 3 (02:40):
I say, look back in your box. Team, you know
you're doing great work on the streets. Go fight some
real crime and let these guys get on.

Speaker 2 (02:48):
But do you, I mean, do you have a view
on the perception that I've got watching what's going on
with the anti alcohol people and the police.

Speaker 3 (02:55):
And it's not all the cops.

Speaker 1 (02:56):
It's just like a little group.

Speaker 2 (02:57):
Who are opposed to it is that they've got really
self right to some weird haven't they?

Speaker 3 (03:02):
Well everything, Yeah, and that's that's the problem with society today.

Speaker 1 (03:07):
We've become very tribal.

Speaker 3 (03:08):
There is no connection between different groups where right, you're wrong,
and we will counterpoint anything any argument you come up with.
At the heart of this, there's a bunch of young
people trying to do the right thing by mental health
to help a local charity, and that's where the decision
should be made, not on this this thing that there's

(03:31):
an intrinsic link between alcohol and suicide, because you know
what suicide is not. I'm sorry, Alcohol is not a
problem for people with mental health issues. It's actually the
solution to our problem. And until you come up with
a better solution.

Speaker 2 (03:48):
Then by that, how is it a solution?

Speaker 3 (03:51):
Well, it stops those those thoughts I would suggest to you.

Speaker 1 (03:55):
I would suggest to you that alcohol.

Speaker 3 (03:57):
Has prevented more young people from taking their own lives
that actually takes their own lives. And when I was
I'm a drug addict and alcoholic in my whole life.
I used drugs and alcohol to stop that little voice
inside my head that told me that I wasn't good enough,
that I was useless. It's release, hopeless, it's a release.

(04:18):
It's like a video game. It's exactly the same thing.

Speaker 1 (04:22):
You know. I would always be out and about with.

Speaker 3 (04:24):
Groups of people because the thing I feared most was
being in a room by myself. So the drugs and
the alcohol help that until I got counseling and I
found a way of dealing with my bigger issues. So
alcohol has never been the issue. It shouldn't be in
the Mental Health Act at all. We should come up
with alternatives. It's like methadone. It keeps us going until

(04:48):
some help comes along.

Speaker 1 (04:50):
Interesting, it's our life jacket, a.

Speaker 2 (04:51):
Really interesting perspective. Hey, thank you, Mike, appreciate It's Mike King,
mental health advocate. By the way, Friday, I think is
gun boot Friday. For more from Hither Dukeless, see Allen Drive.
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