This page contains information about Liquor Certificates, how to apply and and the process for granting permission.
Updated:
2/05/2013 4:30 p.m.
A Liquor Certificate is required for an on-licence, off-licence or club licence. As we have a responsibility to control the “effects” of the use of land within the district, the proposal must comply with all of the rules of our District Plan.
If it does comply it is then considered to be a “permitted” activity. If the proposal does not comply, resource consent will be necessary before the proposal is allowed to commence.
When a resource consent is granted or if the proposal has existing use rights, then a Resource Management and Liquor Certificate can be issued.
A Liquor Certificate is specific to the licensee and the premises. If the licensee moves their business to other premises they must apply for a new certificate for the new premises. Alternatively, if the owner of the business changes, a new certificate needs to be applied for by the new owners.
All liquor certificates are forwarded to our Liquor Licensing team for monitoring.
For further information about Liquor Licenses, follow the link below.
Liquor Licensing
Lodgement meeting
We recommend that a lodgement meeting for each application is held between the agent/applicant and our planning staff to ensure that all the necessary information has been supplied with the application.
The meeting also provides a valuable opportunity for agents/applicants to discuss the resource consent process or issues relating to the application.
Incomplete applications lodged through this system will not be accepted which may mean additional lodgement meetings.
Contact our Resource Consents Administration Team Leader to make an appointment by phoning +64 9 430 4200.
Applying for a Liquor Certificate
You will need to complete an application form, and include the following information:
- covering letter
- current Certificate of Title
- planning maps
- set of plans
- advance fee/deposit
- four copies of the application, including accompanying information.
It is the applicant's responsibility to provide all details and information. Our guidance notes explain the process and the information which you need to include.
Resource Consent Application Guidance Notes [293kb]
Liquor Certificate Application [107kb]
Assessment of Environmental Effects Form [65kb]
Assessing the application
Your application is initially checked by our Customer Services staff to ensure the application is complete and contains sufficient information. This is not a technical planning check. The advance fee is paid at this stage.
Our senior planning staff then do an assessment and a preliminary planning check to ensure that the application satisfies the provisions of the RMA. If not, it may be rejected at this stage. If the application is accepted it is then processed.
Processing the consent
We have 20 working days to process applications.
Planning staff visit the site and prepare a report with recommendations which is forwarded to a senior planner for consideration.
The report and recommendations is signed, either issuing the Certificate of Compliance or confirming that the activity is not permitted.
The signed decision is sent to the applicant or agent, if one has been engaged. Most applications incur some additional charges during processing. These are charged after a decision is made on the application.
Council fees are payable whether or not the Liquor Certificate is issued. Follow the link below for details of our Schedule of Fees and Charges.
Fees and Charges
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