7 Feb 2014

Bar owner says area to blame

7:29 pm on 7 February 2014

An Auckland bar manager who tried to resuscitate a man injured in an attack in Papatoetoe says the area is the problem, not the pubs or the closing hours.

A man in his mid-30s suffered serious head injuries after being beaten outside the Papatoetoe Clubrooms about 4am on Friday. He is being treated in Auckland Hospital.

Manager Anita Stowers said an argument over paying for a taxi led to the assault. She said she and her security staff performed CPR on the man while the attackers left in the taxi.

Though her bar closes at 3am, she spends thousands of dollars a week employing bouncers until 5am just to disperse people loitering on the streets.

Ms Stowers said prostitutes, drug dealers and gangs operate on the main road outside, but the bars get the blame for any problems.

"Half the time I have three guards outside trying to control the drug dealers trying to come in, prostitutes trying to come in, and all the time it's actually the bar that gets the blame for a lot of things that happen across the road on the corners."

Arrest made in another attack

A man has been arrested following an assault at a central Auckland bar that left a man with serious head injuries.

The incident happened on the dance floor at Cassette Nine on Vulcan Lane at 3.20am on Friday. The injured man, 35, is in a serious condition in hospital.

Detective Senior Sergeant John Sutton said security camera footage led police to a nearby carpark where they found a 22-year-old man, who has been charged with injuring with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The man, who works as a labourer in Napier, will appear in Auckland District Court on Friday.