Apply for a Liquor Planning certificate

You need a Liquor Planning Certificate when you apply to us for an on-licence, off-licence or club liquor licence.

A Liquor Planning Certificate is specific to the licensee and the premises. A new application must be made if the licensee moves their business to other premises, or the owner of the business changes.

We can only issue a Liquor Planning Certificate if what you are doing is either:

  • a permitted activity under the rules of our District Plan
  • has existing use rights
  • has a valid resource consent.

If these requirements are not met, a resource consent will be required before we can issue the Liquor Planning Certificate. 

We recommend that you:

  • read our advice before you start
  • speak with our duty planner if you are unsure if the activity meets the criteria that need to be met for us to issue a Liquor Planning Certificate.

By email

Step 1.Prepare supporting information 

You will need:

  • site plans - showing the location of the building tenancy and any onsite parking spaces available
  • floor plan - showing the layout and uses of the building/tenancy including any outdoor areas. The area(s) of the premises and/or the site where liquor is to be sold, supplied or consumed must be clearly shown
  • signs plan - detailing any existing and proposed signage on the exterior of the building / tenancy. The size (height, width, area) and location of all signs must be clearly shown / detailed
  • record of title (for the site(s) to which this application relates) – this must be a search copy issued within three months of making your application. If there are interests registered against the certificate of title, copies of these may also need to be provided
  • a copy of the most recent resource consent or any previous liquor planning certificates for the premise (where relevant).

Step 2.Discuss with duty planner (optional)

You can discuss your application with our duty planner before you submit it to us.

The duty planner can respond to any questions you have and check that the supporting documentation you have prepared is everything you need to have your application accepted by us.

How we can help

Step 3.Complete application

Download the application, print and complete it by hand. 

Liquor Planning Certificate application form(PDF, 288KB) 

Step 4.Email  us

Email your completed application and supporting information to:

Email:  mailroom@wdc.govt.nz

Step 5.Assessing your application

When we receive your application, we will check it for completeness. If your application doesn't include sufficient information, we will return it to you within 10 working days of its receipt.

Step 6.Pay advance fee 

Upon accepting your application, we will send you an invoice for our advance deposit fee.

Resource consent management fees and charges

You can pay the invoice either online, in person or call us with your details. We accept Visa and Mastercard payments via our Contact Centre.

Online: Pay an application fee or invoice

Phone: 09 430 4200

Step 7.Application processing

Once your advance fee is received, your application will be assigned to a planner for processing. 

If your application meets the requirements outlined above, and you have provided sufficient detail in the supporting information, we will provide you a Liquor Planning Certificate. 

In most cases this will be issued within 20 working days. Timeframes may be extended if we ask you to provide further supporting information.

Step 8.Receive your certificate

We will send you a copy of your Liquor Planning Certificate.  It will also be sent to our Liquor Licensing team for monitoring.

An invoice for any outstanding processing fees will be issued at this time. 

Step 9.Pay outstanding fees

You can pay the invoice either online, in person or call us with your details. We accept Visa and Mastercard payments via our Contact Centre.

Online: Pay an application fee or invoice

Phone: 09 430 4200

Step 10.Apply for an on-licence, off-licence or club liquor licence

Once you receive your Liquor Planning Certificate you can apply to us for an on-licence, off-licence or club liquor licence.

You cannot start selling alcohol until your on-licence, off-licence or club liquor licence is approved by us.

Apply for an on-licence, off-licence or club liquor licence

In-person

Step 1.Prepare supporting information 

You will need:

  • site plans - showing the location of the building tenancy and any onsite parking spaces available
  • floor plan - showing the layout and uses of the building/tenancy including any outdoor areas. The area(s) of the premises and/or the site where liquor is to be sold, supplied or consumed must be clearly shown
  • signs plan - detailing any existing and proposed signage on the exterior of the building / tenancy. The size (height, width, area) and location of all signs must be clearly shown / detailed
  • record of title (for the site(s) to which this application relates) – this must be a search copy issued within three months of making your application. If there are interests registered against the certificate of title, copies of these may also need to be provided
  • a copy of the most recent resource consent or any previous liquor planning certificates for the premise (where relevant).

Step 2.Discuss with duty planner (optional)

You can discuss your application with our duty planner before you submit it to us.

The duty planner can respond to any questions you have and check that the supporting documentation you have prepared is everything you need to have your application accepted by us.

How we can help

Step 3.Complete application

Download the application, print and complete it by hand.  

Liquor Planning Certificate application form(PDF, 288KB) 

Step 4.Bring into us

Bring your completed application and supporting information into one of our Customer Service centres: 

Forum North customer service centre
7 Rust Avenue, Whangārei
Monday to Friday - 8:00am to 4:30pm
Closed public holidays

Ruakākā service centre 
9 Takutai Place, Ruakākā
Monday to Friday - 8:30am to 4:00pm
Closed public holidays

Step 5.Assessing your application

When we receive your application, we will check it for completeness. If your application doesn't include sufficient information, we will return it to you within 10 working days of its receipt.

Step 6.Pay advance fee 

Upon accepting your application, we will send you an invoice for our advance deposit fee.

Resource consent management fees and charges

You can pay the invoice either online, in person or call us with your details. We accept Visa and Mastercard payments via our Contact Centre.

Online: Pay an application fee or invoice

Phone: 09 430 4200

Step 7.Application processing

Once your advance fee is received, your application will be assigned to a planner for processing. 

If your application meets the requirements outlined above, and you have provided sufficient detail in the supporting information, we will provide you a Liquor Planning Certificate. 

In most cases this will be issued within 20 working days. Timeframes may be extended if we ask you to provide further supporting information.

Step 8.Receive your certificate

We will send you a copy of your Liquor Planning Certificate.  It will also be sent to our Liquor Licensing team for monitoring.

An invoice for any outstanding processing fees will be issued at this time. 

Step 9.Pay outstanding fees

You can pay the invoice either online, in person or call us with your details. We accept Visa and Mastercard payments via our Contact Centre.

Online: Pay an application fee or invoice

Phone: 09 430 4200

Step 10.Apply for an on-licence, off-licence or club liquor licence

Once you receive your Liquor Planning Certificate you can apply to us for an on-licence, off-licence or club liquor licence.

You cannot start selling alcohol until your on-licence, off-licence or club liquor licence is approved by us.

Apply for an on-licence, off-licence or club liquor licence

By post

Step 1.Prepare supporting information 

You will need:

  • site plans - showing the location of the building tenancy and any onsite parking spaces available
  • floor plan - showing the layout and uses of the building/tenancy including any outdoor areas. The area(s) of the premises and/or the site where liquor is to be sold, supplied or consumed must be clearly shown
  • signs plan - detailing any existing and proposed signage on the exterior of the building / tenancy. The size (height, width, area) and location of all signs must be clearly shown / detailed
  • record of title (for the site(s) to which this application relates) – this must be a search copy issued within three months of making your application. If there are interests registered against the certificate of title, copies of these may also need to be provided
  • a copy of the most recent resource consent or any previous liquor planning certificates for the premise (where relevant).

Step 2.Discuss with duty planner (optional)

You can discuss your application with our duty planner before you submit it to us.

The duty planner can respond to any questions you have and check that the supporting documentation you have prepared is everything you need to have your application accepted by us.

How we can help

Step 3.Complete application

Download the application, print and complete it by hand. 

Liquor Planning Certificate application form(PDF, 288KB) 

Step 4.Post to us

Post your completed application and supporting information to:

Whangarei District Council 
Private Bag 9023
Te Mai
Whangārei 0143

Step 5.Assessing your application

When we receive your application, we will check it for completeness. If your application doesn't include sufficient information, we will return it to you within 10 working days of its receipt.

Step 6.Pay advance fee 

Upon accepting your application, we will send you an invoice for our advance deposit fee.

Resource consent management fees and charges

You can pay the invoice either online, in person or call us with your details. We accept Visa and Mastercard payments via our Contact Centre.

Online: Pay an application fee or invoice

Phone: 09 430 4200

Step 7.Application processing

Once your advance fee is received, your application will be assigned to a planner for processing. 

If your application meets the requirements outlined above, and you have provided sufficient detail in the supporting information, we will provide you a Liquor Planning Certificate. 

In most cases this will be issued within 20 working days. Timeframes may be extended if we ask you to provide further supporting information.

Step 8.Receive your certificate

We will send you a copy of your Liquor Planning Certificate.  It will also be sent to our Liquor Licensing team for monitoring.

An invoice for any outstanding processing fees will be issued at this time. 

Step 9.Pay outstanding fees

You can pay the invoice either online, in person or call us with your details. We accept Visa and Mastercard payments via our Contact Centre.

Online: Pay an application fee or invoice

Phone: 09 430 4200

Step 10.Apply for an on-licence, off-licence or club liquor licence

Once you receive your Liquor Planning Certificate you can apply to us for an on-licence, off-licence or club liquor licence.

You cannot start selling alcohol until your on-licence, off-licence or club liquor licence is approved by us.

Apply for an on-licence, off-licence or club liquor licence

Enquiries

Use our online form to ask a duty planner or for enquiries.

Enquire online

Book a 20-minute duty planner appointment via phone.

Phone:  09 430 4200 

Advice before you start

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