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Information required for an off-licence

The District Licensing Agency requires three copies of the application together with supporting documents.

• Names, birth dates and addresses of partners if the applicant is a partnership
• Details of applicant, including Certificate of Incorporation if applicant is a company
• Where the applicant is a company, a copy of the memorandum of association or other documentary evidence of its authority to sell liquor or to hold a licence under the Act or under the provisions of any previous enactment relating to the sale of liquor shall be provided.
• Where the applicant is a board, organisation, or body to which section 30(1)(bb) of the Act applies, a reference to the Act under which the applicant is authorised to sell liquor or hold an on-licence under the Act.
• Where the applicant is a manager acting for any person pursuant to a property order made under the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act 1988, a copy of the property order shall be provided.
• Where the applicant is a club, evidence that the club 
  i. Held a charter under section 164 of the Sale of Liquor Act 1962 immediately before the 1st day of April 1990 or 
  ii. Holds a club licence under the Sale of Liquor Act 1989 and is not a Sports Club shall be provided.
• Where the application relates to a hotel or tavern, a reference to the number of the on-licence held by the applicant in respect of the hotel or tavern shall be provided.
• Where the application relates to premises in which the principal business is the manufacture or sale of liquor, particulars of the principal business conducted on the premises shall be provided, and, where that principal business is wine making, the number of the licence held under the Wine Makers Act 1981 shall be provided.
• Where the application relates to a supermarket, particulars of the floor area of the supermarket, including any separate departments set aside for such foodstuffs as fresh meat, fresh fruit and vegetables, and delicatessen items shall be provided.
• Where the application relates to a grocery store, particulars of the principal business of the store, including evidence and certified accounts showing the percentage of turnover that is derived from the sale of main order household foodstuffs.
• Where the application is made in reliance on section 36 (2) (a) of the Act, evidence to show that the sale of liquor in premises of a kind described in paragraph (c) or paragraph (d) of section 36 (1) of the Act would not be economic must be provided. Year 2000 Form A3 continued
• Where the application is made in reliance on section 36 (2) (b) of the Act, particulars of the kind of goods sold in the premises to which it is claimed the sale of liquor would be complementary shall be provided.
• Where the application is made by the holder of an auctioneer's licence, the number of the licence held under the Auctioneer's Act 1928 shall be provided. ma) Where the application relates to the business of a caterer, evidence to show that the applicant is or will be conducting the business of a caterer, including the frequency and types of functions that are or are proposed to be catered for.
• Premises detail - lot & DP numbers, and physical address
• Owner of premises name, address and lease agreement
• Hours & days proposed for the sale of liquor
• How the applicant proposes to ensure requirements of the Sale of Liquor Act are observed - i.e. host responsibility, prohibited persons - House Policy
• Photograph of exterior (if existing building) or artist's impression if yet to be built
• Map showing location of premises
• Scale plan showing principal entrances, areas of sale of liquor and designations
• Written statement from the owner (if not the applicant) stating they have no objection to the grant of a liquor licence
• Certificate of compliance (town planning approval), including building code, to include fire egress inspection report.
• Copy of manager's certificate/s

What happens to the application after it has been filed?

Once the District Licensing Agency receives the application and all necessary supporting documents from the applicant, a copy is sent to the Police who make a recommendation on the application.

When the application has been filed with the District Licensing Agency the applicant has 20 working days to give public notice of the application. The notice must be published twice in a newspaper circulating in the district where the premise is situated, with not less than 5 days and not more than 10 days between the two dates of application. The newspapers for this district are the Northland Age (Kaitaia/Mangonui) and the Northern News for all other areas. The public have the right to object (on limited grounds) to the application.

The applicant is required to give copies or photocopies showing the newspaper title, date of publishing and the public notices to the DLA Inspector.

The District Licensing Agency collates the reports received from the Police, and any objections that may have been received from the public regarding the application.

The DLA Inspector will issue a report, then

EITHER approve the application and issuance of the licence, as long as there are no objections

OR - where there are objections - make a recommendation on the application, and send the complete file to the Liquor Licensing Authority.

If any objections received are considered valid, a hearing will be organised by the Liquor Licensing Authority. The hearings will be held at a location that will be advised by the Liquor Licencing Authority. For more information please contact the DLA Inspector by using our normal contact details.

Cost

Check the Consolidated fees Schedule for charges - or Contact Us

Processing time

The processing time of applications for off licences can vary - the DLA Inspector must have a complete file to pass onto the Police.

A complete file consists of all the information required as above.

Length of validity

An off licence is usually issued for one year, then may be renewed for a further three years.

Return to Liquor Licencing page.