All businesses selling and trading in food more than once a year must be registered and operate under one of the following:
- Template Food Control Plan – people who manufacture and prepare food
- National Programme 3, e.g. Retailers that handle food but do not prepare it such as service stations.
- National Programme 2, e.g. Food service provider to preschool children.
- National Programme 1, e.g. coffee carts
- Custom Food Control Plan – Register with Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) not Council.
How to apply
If you are a new food business or are a current business who is transitioning to the Food Act 2014; you need to complete an application form for registration and scope of operations document and submit these to Council. Contact a staff member in the Economic Development Department for the suitable form.
- On licence – An On Licence is required to authorise the licensee to sell and supply alcohol from a specific premises to be consumed on the premises.
- Off licence -An Off Licence is required to authorise the licensee to sell and deliver liquor from a specific premises to be consumed elsewhere.
- club licence -A club licence is required to authorise the licensee to sell and supply alcohol to authorised customers for consumption on the premises. An authorised customer means a person who is a member of the club, a guest accompanied by the member or a member of another club with reciprocal visiting rights.
- Special licence -A special licence is required to authorise the licensee to sell and supply alcohol to people attending an event described in the licence. Special Liquor Licence applications must be lodged with Council at least 20 working days before the event.
Manager’s Certificate
It is a requirement under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 that at all times when alcohol is being sold or supplied to the public a duty manager is responsible for compliance. A duty manager’s certificate authorises the holder to manage any licensed premises. To be eligible to apply for a Manager Certificate you must meet the following requirements:
All applications are sent to the police and also to the licensing inspector. You may be contacted by the licensing inspector to conduct a brief interview. If there are no objections, the certificate will be issued. If opposed, your application may be heard at a public hearing and will involve your local council’s Licensing Committee. Once issued the certificate is valid for one year and then an application for renewal is made.
Renewal of a Manager’s certificate
Managers whose records are on file with the council will be sent a renewal application no less than a month before the certificate is due to expire. It will be sent to the postal address that is on file. Included as part of the application for renewal is a questionnaire to test your knowledge of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012. This must be completed correctly for your application to begin to be processed. If you hold a Licence Controller Qualification (LCQ) under the Sale of Liquor Act 1989 and have not completed and provided a Bridging Test Certificate then you will be required to undertake a new LCQ course outlining the units related to the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012. It is important to let us know if your address changes between renewals, so you receive the information in a timely manner. It is the responsibility of the certificate holder to ensure an application for renewal is lodged prior to the expiry date. If your certificate expires before an application for renewal is lodged then your certificate is no longer current and an application for new manager’s certificate must be applied for. New certificates are valid for one year.
Temporary Authority for On-Licence/Off-Licence
Acting Manager:
An acting manager can be appointed when a duty manager is ill, absent or on annual leave for a period of no more than three weeks at any one time and for a maximum of six weeks in a 12 month period. It is not necessary for this person to apply for a Manager’s Certificate. If the appointment is to be for more than 48 hours then you must contact the council, in writing, prior to their start date.
On, Off and Club Licences
The aim of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 is not to restrict liquor sale and supply, but to promote safe and legal drinking. To sell alcohol, you must ensure that you have the correct alcohol licence.
On Licence
An on licence allows the sale or supply of alcohol for consumption on your premises. Examples of premises that require an on licence to sell or supply alcohol include: • restaurant (includes BYO): tavern, bar or pub, nightclub, hotel, cinema or theatre, function centre, or conveyance such as a boat, bus, plane or train. Alcohol must not be removed from the premises.
Off Licence
An off licence allows the holder to sell or supply alcohol for use off the licensed premises. Examples of premises that require an on licence to sell or supply alcohol include: supermarket, bottle store, grocery store, remove sales premises (online order), brewery, winery. Under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012, dairies, petrol stations and convenience stores may not sell alcohol. Supermarkets and grocery stores are only able to sell beer and wine to the public. Alcohol must be consumed off the premises.
Club Licence
A club licence allows a club to sell or supply alcohol for consumption on the premises to: members, guests accompanies by a member, members of other clubs who hold reciprocal visiting rights. Holders of a club licence must ensure whilst the premises are open for the sale and supply of alcohol, that any alcohol not sold or supplied by the club is not consumed. The holder of a club licence must take all practicable steps to ensure at all times there is an appointed secretary of the club. Any changes of the secretary must be notified to our licensing inspectors within 10 days of appointment. Any profit from the sale of alcohol must belong to the club.
How to Apply
The council has application forms which you can complete. To get the application for which best suites you please call the council and ask for the licensing department.
Calculating the fees
The alcohol licensing fees are set at a national level by the Government. Important details to note are: An annual fee is payable on the anniversary of your premise licence. Licences for premises are based on a cost/risk-based approach for alcohol licensing fees. Contact the council to get more information about applying for a licence as well as the fee structure.