Liquor
Are you wanting to sell or supply alcohol over the Christmas summer period?
This will require an alcohol licence; if you don’t already hold an alcohol licence and you are needing to apply for one you may like to keep the following information in mind and begin planning for this soon.
There are different types of alcohol licence you may be able to hold for example a Special licence, On-licence or Off-licence.
A Special licence enables you to sell or supply alcohol for a special one off (or series of one off) events; this could include events such as: Weddings, Birthdays, Launches or openings, Quiz nights, fundraisers, music festivals etc. A licensed premise can also apply for a Special licence to extend their current hours for an event.
If you are looking to apply for a Special licence over the summer months, please take note that Under Legislation 1 working day if from the 20 December to the 15 January the following year. As a minimum of 20 working days is required to process a Special licence you will need to lodge your application with Council by 17 November to ensure this is ready for issue prior to Christmas. We are still able to continue accepting applications after this time though you will not receive your licence until the New Year.
Council will continue to accept all alcohol applications up until our Christmas closure between the 22nd of December 2022 and the 8th of January 2023; however reporting timeframes for external agencies will be reflective of the mentioned 1 working day above. Licensing officers and staff will continue working on this throughout this time frame, though the District Licensing Committee will not be granting licenses during this period.
If you are renewing your licence please be mindful of this when submitting your renewal application at least ‘20 working days’ prior to its expiry.
If you are awaiting a decision on a renewal licence remember you can continue trading on your current licence, while you await the decision on your existing licence application.
You can view information on the different types of licenses and download a copy of the application forms under each of the headings.
Alcohol Licensing Application Notices
View a list of the latest alcohol licensing application notices
You must ensure that:
- you have the correct licence for the type of premises (on, off or club) and;
- at least one person is a Certified Manager under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012.
Applying for your Liquor Licence
1. Ask us to send, or, come into the Council to get an application pack.
2. Apply for resource consent:
- If the premises you intend using for the sale of liquor is a new premises or one which has not been used for the sale of liquor before, you need to apply to Council's Planning Services Department for a resource consent.
- If the proposed premises is currently being used for the sale of liquor and you do not propose to change the hours during which liquor is to be sold, you need to apply to Council's Planning Services Department for a planning certificate.
- If you propose to change the hours during which liquor is intended to be sold, you need to apply to Council's Planning Services Department for a resource consent.
- If the proposed premise is not currently being used for the sale of liquor, or you propose to make changes to it, you may need a Building Code Certificate. You should check with Council's Building Control Department.
3. Complete the requirements as listed in your application pack:
- your details (company, partnership etc)
- a scale plan that shows the parts of the premises you want licenced, the parts of the premises you want supervised, restricted or undesignated, (refer explanations for designations) and the principal entrance(s)
- a written statement from the owner giving you permission to be on the premises and to sell or supply liquor
- a street or area map showing the location of the premises
- a photograph of the premises or an artist's impression of what it will look like when completed
- a sample menu (not required for off-license applications)
- a copy of your host responsibility policy (not required for Off-licence applications)
4. Lodge your application with the District Licencing Committee
- For an on- or club license you should provide the original application plus three copies of the application including all documents. For an off-license application, provide just one original and one copy of the application and all documents.
- After Council has received and receipted your application you must place two public notices in either the Daily Post or the Rotorua Review no less than five working days and no more than 10 working days apart. Copies of the newspaper advertisements must be sent to the District Licensing Committee as soon as possible after they have been published.
- You are also required to place a notice in a conspicuous place on or adjacent to the site, using form 1A in the application pack (unless the secretary of the District Licensing Committee agrees that it is impractical to do so). You must also complete the statement in form 1A and return it to Council.
Types of liquor licence/forms
Please ensure that you make an appointment (free of charge), to have your application forms vetted/checked by emailing: info@rotorualc.nz. A friendly staff member will be in touch to make arrangements with you.
Manager's certificate
Application to be a Duty Manager on licenced premises.
- New Manager's Certificate Application
- Club Manager's LCQ requirements
- Notice of Management Change
- Renewal of Manager's Certificate Application
On-licence
Authorises the sale and supply of liquor for consumption on the premises or conveyance (for example, a restaurant, hotel, plane or boat).
New/renewal/variation of On-licence
Off-licence
Authorises the sale or delivery of liquor for consumption off the premises (for example, a bottle shop or supermarket).
Club licence
Healthy Families Rotorua would like to offer all Sports Clubs support, advice, education, engagement and advocacy with local and national initiatives, as part of the liquor licensing application process.
Proposal for sports clubs from Healthy Families Rotorua
Authorises the sale and supply of liquor for consumption on the premises to members of the club and their guests, and members of other clubs who hold reciprocal visiting rights.
Special licence
Authorises the sale and supply of liquor for consumption on the premises or conveyance, to any person attending any occasion or event (for example, a sporting event, a bus trip, or a party on hired premises where alcohol is being sold).
Temporary authority
Authorises the temporary transfer of the current on- or off-license for purchased premises. This is initially issued for 3 months to allow the applicant to obtain a full license in their own name.
New Changes to Liquor Licensing Laws
Related Links
- Renewal of Managers Certificate Application
- New Managers Certificate Application
- Objecting to Liquor Licenses
- Applying for a Managers/Temporary Managers Liquor License
- Liquor Licensing Agencies
- Liquor Ban Bylaw
- Liquor Licensing Committee
- Rotorua District Alcohol Ban Bylaw 2018
- Rotorua District Alcohol Ban - CBD Map