POLL ON GATHERING DRUG USE CONDEMNED AS `HAPHAZARD'

Nelson: The Gathering does not condone drugs and will continue to work with
police in the future against drug use, says event organiser Murray Kingi.

Mr Kingi criticised a newspaper survey, which said 93 out of 100
"gatherers" surveyed admitted taking some type of illegal drug at the
72-hour dance party at Upper Takaka in Golden Bay.

"The survey from which the figures were drawn was unofficial, haphazard and
biased, conducted by members of the press.

"Its intention was presumably to elicit dubious statistics that could
confirm existing opinions about drug use at the Gathering," he said.

The survey was conducted by two Nelson Mail reporters, who spent four days
at the Gathering. They interviewed 100 people as part of the survey, but
also talked to many other partygoers.

Some drugs appeared easy to come by at the party, with at least two people
openly selling cannabis. Despite this, relatively few people got their
drugs on site, the survey revealed.

The survey asked people what sort of drugs, if any, they had taken, where
they had got them from, and why they used drugs.

The drug users had a variety of backgrounds, occupations and ages.

Mr Kingi said the Gathering offered a "unique and comprehensive range of
services and support" to protect partygoers.

But, ultimately, organisers had no jurisdiction over the choices of those
people at the alcohol-free event.

"We do not and never have condoned drug use. We have always worked closely
with the police, and will continue to do so in the future," he said.

Mr Kingi has previously said anyone caught selling or using drugs would be
harshly dealt with but, to his knowledge, no-one had been caught.