Liquor

You are here > Home > A-Z of Council Services > Liquor > Liquor Licensing

Liquor Licensing

Liquor Overview | Manager's Certificates

To ensure that the sale and supply of liquor takes place responsibly, it is a legal requirement under the Sale of Liquor Act 1989 that you have a licence before you can sell or supply liquor.

Who can hold a licence?

Licence holders must be aged 20 years or over, and meet the other requirements of the Sale of Liquor Act. A licence is issued to a person, company or legal entity in relation to a premise (or conveyance, such as a train or boat). A licence cannot be transferred from one person to another, or from one premise or conveyance to another.

At all times when liquor is being sold or supplied to the public on licensed premises, a certified manager is required to be on duty and is responsible for compliance with the Sale of Liquor Act 1989 and the conditions of the licence.

What type of licence should I apply for?

The type of licence you apply for depends on what activities or type of business you are planning. There are four types of licences.

On-licence

An on-licence authorises the holder to sell or supply liquor for consumption on their premises, but liquor cannot be removed from the site.

On-licence application form (2MB PDF)
On-licence renewal form (476KB PDF)

Off-licence

An off-licence authorises the holder to sell or deliver liquor on or from their premises, described in the licence to any person for consumption off their premises.

Off-licence application form (305KB PDF)
Off-licence renewal form (524KB PDF)Return to top

Club licence

A club licence authorises the holder to sell or supply liquor for consumption on their premises to any member of the club (e.g. incorporated clubs such as sports clubs and social clubs), or any person who is a guest of, and is accompanied by a member of the club, or any member of any other club with which the holder of the licence has an arrangement for reciprocal visiting rights for members for the club. Liquor cannot be removed from the site.

Club licence application form (259KB PDF)
Club licence renewal application form (240KB PDF)

Special licence

A special licence is for events or occasions such as weddings, wine tastings and birthdays where a licence is required only for a short period of time and where the applicant intends to sell liquor.

Special licence application form (761KB PDF)

Temporary authority

If you have purchased a licensed business a temporary authority is required to operate the business until your own licence has been approved.

Temporary authority form (561KB PDF)Return to top

How to obtain a liquor licence?

How to obtain a liquor licence

Meet with the District Licensing Agency (DLA), which is administered by us, and explain your plans and discuss any issues prior to making your application for a liquor licence. Phone the council to make an appointment.
Apply for certificates of compliance with the Resource Management Act and the Building Act.
Lodge your on-licence with the DLA.
Publicly notify your application by placing two advertisements, a week apart, in the public notices section of the local newspaper (the paper must have significant distribution in the area) within 20 working days of lodging the application.
Place a “notice on buildings”, pursuant to section 9 (5) of the Act, for the period the newspaper advertisements run.
Submit evidence of public notification to the DLA by suppling the whole page, including the date and name of the paper, containing the two newspaper advertisements and a signed declaration that the “notice of buildings” was visible on the front of the building.
Meanwhile, the DLA refers your application to the reporting agencies (licensing inspector, police and Taranaki Health) for comment.
If the application is complete, following public notification and the objection period, and when the reports from the reporting agencies have been received, it will be considered for approval by the DLA. If there are any objections lodged by the public, or if any of the reporting agencies raise matters in opposition, the application will be referred to the Liquor Licensing Authority (LLA) in Wellington for determination.

Note: Most special licences do not need to be publicly notified.Return to top

How long does it take to obtain a liquor licence?

On, off and club licence applications are generally processed within eight to 12 weeks of receiving the application. Special licences take at least 20 working days to process. These processing times will be delayed if there is information outstanding from your application, or if there are any objections to your application from the public or reporting agencies.

How much does a licence cost?

Fees apply for a year and are valid until 30 June 2009.

Club licence	$776
On licence - BYO endorsed	$132
On licence (conveyance)	$776
On licence	$776
Off licence - caterers/auctioneers	$132
Off licence	$776
Renewal of licence - BYO, caterers, auctioneers	$776
Manager's certificate	$132
Manager's certificate renewal	$132
Special licence (conveyance)	$63
Special licence (premises)	$63
Temporary authority	$132
Building certificate	$200