Liquor

• Liquor Licence Information 

• Liquor Licence Application Forms

• Host Responsibility

LIQUOR CONTROL AREAS and BYLAWS

It is an offence to consume or carry opened alcohol in a liquor ban area, except at licensed premises or in a building.  Police have powers to search, seize and arrest.       

Liquor ban areas: Mangawhai, Dargaville, Ruawai, Kaihu, Aranga, Omamrari, Baylys, Glinks Gully, Poutu, Te Kopuru

• Public Places Liquor Control Bylaw 2009

Liquor Licence Information

If you own, operate or manage a business or venue, where alcohol will be sold and supplied, you need to be familiar with the laws and regulations that apply to liquor under the Sale of Liquor Act 1989 and amendments.

Which licence do you require?

If you want to sell and supply alcohol, you must apply for the appropriate liquor licence. Each licence has its own application form, a non-refundable fee and requirements for specific additional documentation.

On Licence

This allows you to sell and supply alcohol for consumption.  An On Licence may be issued for building premises and conveyances:

• Tavern
• Hotel
• Night club
• Restaurant or café
• Conveyances; bus, boat or ship, aircraft, train, vehicle
• Endorsed premises; BYO.

Off Licence

This allows you to sell, supply or deliver alcohol for consumption off the premises.  An Off Licence may be issued for:

• A "stand alone" bottle shop or store
• A supermarket or grocery store
• A brewery
• A winery

Club Licence

This allows clubs to sell; supply and serve alcohol for consumption, on club premises to club members, their guests and members of clubs with reciprocal visiting rights.

• Club - sport, social or corporate.

Special Licence

This allows the holder, to sell and supply alcohol, on the premises or conveyance named in the licence, to any person or persons attending the occasion or event approved by the licence, for the duration of the specific occasion or event.

• sporting event
• wine tasting
• bus trip
• party where alcohol is being sold
• public party where alcohol is being sold and supplied
• party on leased premises where alcohol is being sold and supplied
• event where tickets are being sold
• any licensed premises that operates outside the conditions of their existing licence

Temporary Authority

If you have purchased a licensed business with a current On or Off Licence, you must apply for temporary authority to operate until your own licence has been approved.  You need to apply for temporary authority at least 10 working days before you take-over the business. A Temporary Authority will be granted, providing there are no objections, for a maximum of three months, during which time you must apply for and be granted your own On or Off licence.

Manager's Certificate

A certified general manager must be on duty at all times when liquor is being sold and supplied to the public except in the case of most special licences and endorsed licences.

Clubs must appoint at least one manager who holds either a club or a general manager's certificate.

If the certified manager is ill, absent, dismissed or resigned, a licensee can appoint a temporary or acting manager. These people must be adequately trained and Council and the Police notified.

Temporary Manager

A temporary manager can be appointed where a manager is ill or absent for any reason, or is dismissed, or resigns.  A licensee may appoint a person who is not the holder of a manager’s certificate as a temporary manager.  The person appointed as a temporary manager must, within two working days, apply for a manager’s certificate and then may continue as a temporary manager until such time as the application for the manager’s certificate is determined.

A licensee can appoint someone who is not the holder of a manager’s certificate as an acting manager for any period not exceeding three weeks at any one time.  An individual can not be appointed as an “acting manager” for any period totalling more than six weeks in a 12 month period.

Applying for a licence

Applications for a premises or conveyance (On, Off or Club licence) licence must be made to the Kaipara District Licensing Agency on the appropriate form with supporting information. Once lodged, applications are sent to the Police, Fire Service and District Licensing Inspector, and in some cases the Medical Officer of Health who then give their reports to the District Licensing Agency.

All applications are required to be publicly notified by the applicant in a newspaper that circulates within their local area. Once the above reports and supporting documents have been received the applications will processed and granted provided there are no objections.  For further information contact the Kaipara District Council District Licensing Agency.

Liquor Licence Forms

Premises licence applications

• On Licence Premises Application  - restaurant, cafe, tavern, hotel, bar, wine bar
• Off Licence Premises Application - supermarket, grocery store, bottle store, catering Off Licence premises  
• Club Licence Application - all types of clubs 
• Renewal - On Licence; Off Licence; Club Licence

Special Licence  

• Special Licence Premises Application - use this form for an event such as selling and supplying liquor at a quiz night, special events, conveyance or licensed premises that operates outside of the conditions of their existing licence.

Manager's Certificate  

• General Manager or Club Managers Certificate Application - for general or club manager’s certificate

Temporary Authority  

• Temporary Authority Application - If you purchase an existing licensed business, you must apply for temporary authority to operate legally until your own licence has been approved.  This needs to be filled in at least 10 working days before you take over. 

Host responsibility

Host Responsibility is being responsible with the serving of alcohol at any venue, licensed premises, special occasion or special event to reduce the problems that can be caused from excessive drinking.

Below is a set of guidelines that supports this aim. 

As a responsible supplier of alcoholic drinks, you are legally required to ensure that Host Responsibility is followed at all times while alcohol is being served or consumed.

1. Provide and promote substantial food as long as alcohol is being served

2. Provide and promote non-alcoholic and low alcohol beverages

3. Offer free non-alcoholic drinks to designated drivers

4. Do not encourage promotions e.g. happy hours, specials, giveaways.

5. Have a telephone accessible for your patrons to use to arrange transport options.

6. Have a system in place for checking the age of patrons and for refusing service to underage patrons.

7. Ensure staff is trained to watch for and be able to recognise patrons that have had too much to drink and prevent driving under the influence of alcohol. 

8. Ensure that alcohol is not supplied to intoxicated persons.

District Licensing Inspectors together with the Police conduct routine inspections of licensed premises and venues where special licences have been granted to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Sale of Liquor Act 1989 and licence conditions

If you are applying for a licence for a special occasion or a special event you will need to supply adequate information for the application to be processed speedily.  Application forms, Host Responsibility and Special Licence information sheet guidelines are available from the Council offices at Kaiwaka and Dargaville for your assistance.