A legendary West Coast pub has removed its popular outdoor seating under threat of a $20,000 fine.

It was decided the Formerly the Blackball Hilton's tables and chairs fell outside the licensed boundary.

Owner Cynthia Robins says they've been there for decades - and never caused a problem.  

"They're becoming much more strict with what's within the licenced area. We said - well, until this is resolved, we just can't have the tables there? Well, now I feel like the town doesn't look as inviting because those tables aren't out there with the umbrellas up, they look more friendly."

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A legendary West Coast pub has removed its popular outdoor seating under threat of a $20,000 fine.
It was decided the Formerly the Blackball Hilton's tables and chairs fell outside the licensed boundary.
Owner Cynthia Robins says they've been there for decades - and never caused a problem. &nbsp;
"They're becoming much more strict with what's within the licenced area. We said - well, until this is resolved, we just can't have the tables there? Well, now I feel like the town doesn't look as inviting because those tables aren't out there with the umbrellas up, they look more friendly."
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With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Cynthia Robins: Formerly the Blackball Hilton owner on the pub being forced to remove outdoor seating

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/237d1786-e0a7-484e-a29b-b4090059f710/transcript

Tonight on The Huddle, Sarah Trotman from Business Mentors and former Health NZ Chair Rob Campbell joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!

The findings from the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Covid-19 were released today, concerning lockdowns and vaccine mandates. What did we think of this? What can we learn? 

Wellington mayors and social leaders wrote an open letter opposing  the Government’s proposed move-on orders targeting rough sleepers and beggars. What do we make of this? Do we think they have a point? 

LISTEN ABOVE

Tonight on The Huddle, Sarah Trotman from Business Mentors and former Health NZ Chair Rob Campbell joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!
The findings from the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Covid-19 were released today, concerning lockdowns and vaccine mandates. What did we think of this? What can we learn?&nbsp;
Wellington mayors and social leaders wrote an open letter opposing &nbsp;the Government’s proposed move-on orders targeting rough sleepers and beggars. What do we make of this? Do we think they have a point?&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

The Huddle: What can we learn from the Covid inquiry?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/e01ad2d5-d60a-4bce-b038-b40900721b09/transcript

The big Covid inquiry - the Royal Commission of Inquiry - is out and to be honest, I don’t think it’s a game-changer.

It doesn’t tell you anything you didn’t already know or at least strongly suspect. Aucklanders, who were the most affected, lived through it.

We already knew that Grant, Jacinda and Chippy kept us in that 2021 lockdown for too long. We already knew the Auckland border could have been lifted earlier. Now we simply have the proof in writing that we were right.

If there is a revelation here, it’s that Ashley Bloomfield wasn’t the conservative one urging caution. In fact, he was more reasonable than the Government. They ended up ignoring his advice and kept Auckland in lockdown longer than he recommended.

Here’s how it played out in September 2021:

On 12 September, Bloomfield told ministers that Auckland had been in Level 4 long enough - almost four weeks by that point - and that the city could move down a level on 16 September.

Chippy took that to Cabinet but put forward his own idea - keep Auckland in for longer than Bloomfield advised. He suggested staying in until 21 September, an extra five days. Cabinet agreed with Chippy.

Remember, that lockdown was costing Auckland up to $100 million every single day. So Chippy unnecessarily killed jobs and businesses when he didn’t have to. Auckland’s border restrictions also stayed in place longer than officials said was necessary and mandates were kept longer than needed.

What this Royal Commission of Inquiry does is vindicate anyone who said at the time that Auckland should have come out of lockdown and out of its border controls earlier. And it’s an indictment on those who kept those restrictions in place when they didn’t need to.

Five years on, most of us have moved on. We can still get triggered from time to time, but for the most part it feels like ancient history now.

But we shouldn’t forget how hard it was for Aucklanders, how many lives and businesses were broken and how we are still paying the price in today’s cost-of-living crisis for those poor decisions.

As I said, it’s not a game-changer - but it is an official record that what they did at the end of Covid was wrong and unnecessary. And that has value. It matters for accountability, even if only because it’s now on the public record.

LISTEN ABOVE

The big Covid inquiry - the Royal Commission of Inquiry - is out and to be honest, I don’t think it’s a game-changer.
It doesn’t tell you anything you didn’t already know or at least strongly suspect. Aucklanders, who were the most affected, lived through it.
We already knew that Grant, Jacinda and Chippy kept us in that 2021 lockdown for too long. We already knew the Auckland border could have been lifted earlier. Now we simply have the proof in writing that we were right.
If there is a revelation here, it’s that Ashley Bloomfield wasn’t the conservative one urging caution. In fact, he was more reasonable than the Government. They ended up ignoring his advice and kept Auckland in lockdown longer than he recommended.
Here’s how it played out in September 2021:
On 12 September, Bloomfield told ministers that Auckland had been in Level 4 long enough - almost four weeks by that point - and that the city could move down a level on 16 September.
Chippy took that to Cabinet but put forward his own idea - keep Auckland in for longer than Bloomfield advised. He suggested staying in until 21 September, an extra five days. Cabinet agreed with Chippy.
Remember, that lockdown was costing Auckland up to $100 million every single day. So Chippy unnecessarily killed jobs and businesses when he didn’t have to. Auckland’s border restrictions also stayed in place longer than officials said was necessary and mandates were kept longer than needed.
What this Royal Commission of Inquiry does is vindicate anyone who said at the time that Auckland should have come out of lockdown and out of its border controls earlier. And it’s an indictment on those who kept those restrictions in place when they didn’t need to.
Five years on, most of us have moved on. We can still get triggered from time to time, but for the most part it feels like ancient history now.
But we shouldn’t forget how hard it was for Aucklanders, how many lives and businesses were broken and how we are still paying the price in today’s cost-of-living crisis for those poor decisions.
As I said, it’s not a game-changer - but it is an official record that what they did at the end of Covid was wrong and unnecessary. And that has value. It matters for accountability, even if only because it’s now on the public record.
LISTEN ABOVE

Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: This Covid inquiry still matters for accountability

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/1a979602-33d3-4305-b41c-b409006d571d/transcript

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 10 March.

Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 10 March. 
Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Full Show Podcast: 10 March 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/3d997dff-2039-4aae-8198-b40900663221/transcript

Cynthia Robins: Formerly the Blackball Hilton owner on the pub being forced to remove outdoor seating

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