Application number | Licence | Name | Address | Closing Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
ALC23/0267 | Off Licence (Variation) | Countdown Porirua | 1 Parumoana Street, Porirua City Centre, Porirua 5022 | 12 Dec 2023 |
ALC23/0276 | Off Licence (Renewal) | Countdown Aotea | 3A Whitford Brown Avenue, Papakōwhai, Porirua 5024 | 12 Dec 2023 |
ALC23/0285 | On Licence (Renewal) | Sushil's Musclechef Kitchen and Cafe | 27 Aotea Drive, Aotea, Porirua 5024 | 19 Dec 2023 |
ALC23/0302 | Special Licence | NZ Event Solutions (Road to One Love) | 17 Parumoana Street, Porirua City Centre, Porirua 5022 | 19 Dec 2023 |
ALC23/0305 | Club Licence (Renewal) | Titahi Bay Surf Life Saving Club | 7 Toms Road, Tītahi Bay, Porirua 5022 | 12 Feb 2024 |
ALC23/0303 | On Licence (New) | New World Whitby | 69A Discovery Drive, Whitby, Porirua 5024 | 24 Feb 2024 |
Members of the public can object to an application for an alcohol licence in some cases. Your objection must be made within 25 working days after the date of the public notice being made.
Upon receiving an objection, the DLC will send an acknowledgement letter. The licensee will also receive notice an objection has been received. The DLC will then check the validity of the objection, and if valid, a time will be set for a hearing and objectors will be asked whether they wish to speak at the hearing.
Changes have been made to the licensing process making it easier for communities to have a say in how alcohol is regulated in their area. Any person can object to an application for a licence, whether as an individual or representative of a group or organisation (except trade competitors). This change accommodates people who were excluded from participating in licensing hearings who may not live in the area but spend time there due to family connections, living rurally, or having a particular connection to the area.
Objections still need to be based on the licensing criteria set out in the Act.
Objections need to reflect one of the listed criteria detailed in section 105 or section 131 of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012:
Criteria for a new on-licence, off-licence or club licence (section 105):
For a renewal of on-licence, off-licence or club licence (section 131):
When the alcohol licence application is considered, “amenity and good order of the locality” will take into account things like:
You can find more detailed information about objections in regards to the “who”, “what” and “how”, on the Health Promotion Agency website. They also include a useful guide to objections and hearings.
Your objection must include:
A template objection letter can be found below:
Some residents or community groups may which to submit a joint objection. You may wish to circulate petitions to gain support against an alcohol application. Petitions must include:
A template petition style objection can be found below:
Your objection will be assessed by the DLC to make sure you have an interest greater than the general public, and that your grounds for objection meet the relevant criteria.
We are required to forward a copy of all objections to the alcohol licence applicant. Applicants are entitled to know the basis of any objections, so they can consider whether to amend their proposed premises (application), continue with their application or prepare a response to the objection(s). Some applicants may invite objectors or members of the public to a meeting to discuss concerns raised.
An objected alcohol licence application will be considered at a public hearing. You will be advised of the hearing date, time and location. If your objection is in the form of a group petition, we will notify the spokesperson. It is not compulsory for objectors to attend or speak at the hearing, however, the DLC may get a better understanding of the objection if the objector/spokesperson attends the hearing to speak about their concerns.
Objector contact details will not be published or advertised, however, the names of objectors and the grounds for the objection(s) may be included in the DLC decision, which is publicly available.
Objections can be filed in person, by post, fax or emailed:
If you are concerned about how a licensed premise is being managed, you can contact us by phone or email using the details below.
You will need to provide the following information:
You can also contact the police if you believe the situation is urgent or of a serious manner.
Some alcohol licensing applications must be heard by the Porirua District Licensing Committee (DLC) at a hearing open to the public. A DLC hearing is a legal process similar to a court hearing, but it has a chairperson and a panel of appointed members instead of a judge. Hearings are reasonably formal to ensure that applications are dealt with consistently and fairly. All parties are given an equal opportunity to present their views.
DLC hearings are open to the public, including the news media, but you must notify the DLC that you wish to attend a hearing and provide details on which hearing you wish to attend. On occasion, it may be necessary to exclude the public from some parts of a hearing (for example, when the Committee feels like the privacy of an individual needs to be protected).
Every decision of the DLC must be publicly notified. These are uploaded the New Zealand Legal Information Institute (NZLII) monthly and decisions can be searched on New Zealand District Licensing Committee – Porirua.
If you were a party to proceedings and disagree with the DLC’s decision, you can appeal to the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority (ARLA). Appeals are dealt with by way of a rehearing. You must give notice of an appeal to ARLA within 10 working days of the date the decision was notified to you.
More information on appeals can be found on the Ministry of Justice Alcohol Regulatory webpage.