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Applying for an on-licence

You can apply for an on licence in the Far North District for cafes, fully licensed and BYO restaurants and entertainment venues plus hotels, taverns, winebars, nightclubs, tourist hotels and vessels.

1. Is the proposed premises or site in the Far North District?

If YES go to Step 2

If NO, the proposed premises is not in the Far North District then you need to contact the District Licensing Agency where the premises is located (ie. your local council)

2. Are you setting up a new business from scratch?

If NO, you are not setting up a new business from scratch go to Step 3.

If YES, you are setting up a new business from scratch then the liquor licence application is the final step of the licensing process. The following steps should be followed:

The first step

• Ensure that the activity proposed is allowed in You will need to talk with a Resource Planner about the location and type of business proposed (to check parking requirements, hours of activity etc).
• If the Planner gives 'approval' you should apply for a certificate of compliance under the Resource Management Act. Click here to view the costs on the Consolidated Fees and Charges Schedule.
• If the Planner does not give approval the applicant must also apply for a resource consent.

You can contact an FNDC Resource Planner by using our normal contact details.

The second step

• Check with Council the requirements of the Building Code (such as disabled toilets, fire egress and any intended renovations that require building consent etc)
• Check with the Environmental Health Officer the hygiene regulations (kitchen requirements etc).
• You should have a plan of the premises available for the Council staff to check.
• You should provide a fire egress report from a suitably Qualified Engineer. This is required under the Building Act. 

The final step

• Apply for a liquor licence - if all steps have been completed - the certificate of compliance is issued and the building inspection has taken place & approval has been given, application can then be made for the liquor licence.

Application Forms

3. Do the premises have an existing liquor licence?

If the premises has an existing liquor licence, please contact the DLA Inspector by using our normal contact details.

If the premises does not have an existing licence - return to Step 2

Information required with an on licence application

The District Licensing Agency requires three copies of the application form, plus attachments.

• 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.
• Where the applicant is a board, organisation, or body to which section 8(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.
• Premises detail - Lot & DP numbers, and physical address
• Owner of premises name, address and lease agreement
• Hours & days proposed for the sale of liquor
• Whether the applicant requires a BYO licence or full licence
• Provision of food & non-alcoholic refreshments and copy of full menu
• 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 (if required)
• 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 report on the application. If food is involved (which is the case in all club and on licence applications) then a copy is also sent to the Medical Officer of Health who report 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 public have the right to object (on limited grounds) to the application.

The newspapers for this district are the Northland Age (Kaitaia/Mangonui) and the Northern News for all other areas.

The applicant is required to give copies or photocopies showing the newspaper title, date of publishing and the public notices to the DLA Inspector, together with confirmation of when the notices were placed on the site.

The District Licensing Agency collates the reports received from the Police and the Medical Officer of Health, and any objections that may have been received from the public regarding the application. The applicant is notified of any submission received.

The DLA Inspector will isssue a report, then

EITHER approve the application for issuance 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 Licensing Authority.

Cost

Check the Consolidated Fees and Charges schedule or contact details

Processing time

The processing time of applications for on licences can vary - the DLA Inspector must have a complete application to pass onto the Police and to the Medical Officer of Health.

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

Length of validity

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

Return to Liquor Licencing Information.