The following steps are a general guide to help you with the initial stages of your application for a liquor licence.
You can contact the Tauranga District Licensing Agency on 07 577 7000 for assistance and more information.
Step 1
Determine the style of licence most appropriate for your business activity and download the relevant application form.
- You need an on-licence if you plan to sell or supply alcohol in a bar, restaurant, hotels, taverns, night clubs, or BYO premises.
- You need an off-licence if you plan to sell alcohol but not serve it, either in a liquor or wine shop, supermarket or convenience store, through internet distribution, or if you are a caterer or auctioneer.
- You need a club licence if you plan to sell or supply alcohol through an incorporated club, like a sports club, social club, or regular office drinks.
- You need a special licence for instances where you don’t need a licence long-term, ie a special event like a wedding or birthday.
Step 2
Determine who the applicant should be. The application must be made in the name of the person or legal entity that receives the proceeds from the sale of liquor. This could be, for example, an individual, company, or partnership.
Step 3
Obtain your 9(1)(e) Sale of Liquor certificate. You can get the application form from our website or from the customer service centre. If you have any questions about the process please contact the Duty Planner on 07 577 7000.
If a 9(1)(e) Sale of Liquor certificate cannot be issued for any reason (such as the premise does not comply with the District Plan or Resource Management Act), then you will need to apply for resource consent.
Step 4
Once you have obtained your certificate of compliance or resource consent you can apply for your liquor licence. Processing straightforward licence applications takes between four – six weeks. More complex applications may take longer.
The liquor licence application forms lists all the documentation you need to file with your application. You may wish to complete the liquor licence application and obtain all the required documentation while waiting for your certificate of compliance to be issued. Incomplete liquor licence applications will not be accepted.
Step 5
Once we have received your application for an on-licence, off-licence, or club-licence, the District Licensing Agency will seek reports on your application from the relevant reporting bodies, e.g. the Police, the Liquor Licensing Inspector, and the Medical Officer of Health.
Special licence application process
Step 6
You will be required to publicly notify (twice) your application for an on-licence, off-licence, or club-licence in a newspaper or newspapers - ie The Bay of Plenty Times or Weekend Sun. Please contact these newspapers directly for costs.
You are required to provide to the Tauranga District Licensing Agency the full-page extracts from the newspaper or newspapers in which your public notification took place.
The general public have 10 days from the date of the first notice to lodge an objection.
If an objection is received, or one of the reporting bodies opposes all or part of your application, the application may need to be forwarded to the Liquor Licensing Authority in Wellington for determination at a public hearing.
Step 7
When all reports have been received and the public objection period has closed (and there is no opposition or objection) the application will be put before the District Licensing Agency Subcommittee for approval. If approved, the licence will normally be issued immediately.
Note: where there are final clearances required in relation to the Building Code or Food Hygiene Regulations, the licence will not be issued until these have been provided to the Agency.
Further information
Last Reviewed: 19/03/2012