Pubdate: Tue, 15 Mar 2005
Source: Press, The (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2005 The Christchurch Press Company Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.press.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/349
Author: Jarrod Booker
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

ANGRY RESIDENTS SAY NO TO HORNBY NOS STORE

Concerned Hornby residents have hit the pavements to express their anger at 
a "nos bar" selling legal highs to their neighbourhood's youth.

About 20 people bearing banners protested outside the Weirdos Funk Store 
yesterday in an effort to get the shop closed down. They plan to keep the 
pressure on with further action.

The Weirdos Funk Store sells nitrous oxide (nos), which when inhaled gives 
users a brief dizzying high, and party pills popular among teenagers.

"What the answer is, I don't know. But we don't want (the store) here," 
said Helen, a concerned grandmother living in the area.

"It's in the vicinity of all the schools and young children are seeing 
people sucking on these (nitrous oxide filled) balloons and wondering what 
it is."

Hornby High School principal Andy Kai Fong has already come out in 
opposition to the store, while local MP Jim Anderton met with residents on 
the issue last week.

Helen, who did not want her surname published, said she first became 
worried when her 14-year-old granddaughter was served at the store.

She feared what teenagers congregating at the store and "getting off their 
faces" might do to themselves and others.

Intoxicated teenagers were spilling onto busy Main South Road.

"If some poor driver hits someone they are going to have that left on their 
conscience," Helen said.

She was also worried residents in the area could soon become targets as 
teenagers needed money to buy the legal highs.

"It's not just Hornby kids. It's kids coming in from out of town as well. 
Hopefully keeping the pressure on it makes people aware."

Management of the Weirdos Funk Store did not want to comment when 
approached by The Press yesterday.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom