Agencies Responsible for Administering Alcohol Licensing

There are three agencies that are responsible for administering alcohol licensing matters.

Licensing Inspector

The Licensing Inspector's principal functions are to report on all applications for new licences and managers certificates and renewals to the DLC or ARLA.

The Inspector also carries out regular monitoring of licensed premise’s to assess compliance with a licence conditions and the Act. The Licensing Inspector has the power of entry to any licensed premises at any reasonable time to assess compliance with the Act and the licence conditions.

The Licensing Inspector and the Police have the ability to issue infringements.

Please contact the Licensing Inspector to discuss anything relating to the sale of alcohol:

Licensing Inspector
Phone: 06 374 4080 (North) or 06 376 0110 (South)
Email: Alcohol-Licensing@tararuadc.govt.nz
Address: 26 Gordon Street, Dannevirke
Postal: PO Box 115, Dannevirke 4942

District Licensing Committee (DLC)

The DLC is a committee of the Tararua District Council, which consist of a Commissioner and three members selected from an appointed list.

The DLC determine opposed and unopposed applications for new and renewal on, off, club and special licences, in addition to managers' certificates and temporary authority applications.

The DLC can refer an application to ARLA for determination.

Click here for more information on the District Licensing Committee

The ARLA can have up to 3 district court judges (one of whom is the chairperson) and any number of other members. Members are normally appointed for 5 years. The ARLA currently consists of a Chairperson (who is a district court judge) and 3 members.

Their main functions are:

  • To consider and determine applications for on, off and club licences (new, renewal or variations) and managers' certificates referred by District Licensing Committee
  • Any appeals arising from decisions of District Licensing Committees
  • Appeals against elements of a Local Alcohol Policy
  • Applications for variation, suspension or cancellation of on, off or club licences and managers' certificates from the Police or a Licensing Inspector

The Police must enquire into all alcohol licence and managers certificate applications and to provide a report within 25 working days. They must also monitor licensed premises to ensure compliance with the Act. The Police have the power of entry to any licensed premises at any reasonable time or at any time if they have reasonable grounds to suspect that an offence is being committed and assess compliance with the Act and the licence conditions.

In addition, the Police can order the closure of a licensed premise in the case of riot or fighting and can issue infringement notices for a variety of offences under the Act.

The Medical Officer of Health (MoH) has a statutory role to enquire into all licence (new and renewal) applications and to provide a report within 25 working days.

The Medical Officer of Health has a particular focus on wider public health aspects e.g. potable water availability at events.