Find out about licence applications in your neighbourhood

Keep up to date with licence applications in your community. Some Councils have an online system whereby you can register to stay alerted – e.g. Auckland applications, whilst others may place current applications on their website, e.g. Dunedin, Hastings, Wellington. Also keep a look out on the windows of local shops and premises.

Gather your evidence

Think about all of the evidence that you can use to support potential objections in your community. Remember that you can only object in relation to the criteria in the Act. See our guide to the relevant sections of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act for objecting to a liquor licence application.

SECTIONS OF THE LAW RELEVANT TO OBJECTING TO A LIQUOR LICENCE APPLICATION

You may want to collect evidence whenever you have an opportunity – you don’t need to wait until an application for a new licence or renewal of an existing licence to collect evidence.  It is useful if you always document any alcohol-related incidents in your community.  Keep your eyes open and make use of the incident log below to build a portfolio of evidence of alcohol-related harm and negative effects on amenity and good order of your neighbourhood.

This list may help you consider amenity and good order effects, but you could think of other examples: 

EXAMPLES OF GOOD ORDER AND AMENITY EFFECTS

It is useful if you always document any alcohol-related incidents in your community. You can use this incident log to help you.

Know the closing date for objections

Know the date of the first public notice of the application - you have 25 working days to make your objection from this date - write the final date of the 25 working day deadline for objections into your calendar or diary (note - working days do not include public holidays but do include regional anniversary days).

Think about all of the evidence that you can use to support an objection – check your incident log. Remember - you do not have to collect all of the evidence in the 25-working day deadline for an objection. You can ask to present additional evidence at the hearing. But make sure you provide some detail as to why licence applications do not meet the criteria in the Act.

Get others involved in your objection

Talk to others in your community who may share your concerns or be affected by the issue of the licence. Meet to talk about the application. Remember, they don't have to write their own objection - you could do a community objection in the form of a petition. See below.

Think about getting school principals, church ministers local businesses, and other community leaders involved. It doesn't just have to be residents. The Local Corps and church ministers of the Salvation Army can also assist in navigating the alcohol objection process.

Write your objection letter or petition

Feel free to use the template below for your objection letter. Examples of objection letters for new on-licences, and for on-licence renewals are included.

Remember - you don't need to have all your information and evidence prepared within the 25 day deadline - you just need to outline your concerns in relation to the criteria in the Act. You can collect extra evidence to back up your objection before the hearing takes place.

Here are some tips:

If you plan on collecting signatures in the form of a community petition, feel free to use this template:

Circulate the objection or petition template to others

Distribute the objection template to others in the community (those who live or work close to the premises).  Encourage others to complete the objection letter and send to your local Council.  

Or start to gather names, addresses and signatures on the community petition.

It is important that community objectors are able to attend a hearing of the District Licensing Committee in person.

It will be very useful to find out if the three reporting agencies (Council, Police and Health Authorities) plan to oppose the application.  If there is opposition from the reporting agencies, your objection has a much better chance of success.

Send your objection to the licensing team at your local council

Submit your objection to your local licensing team before the 25 working day deadline (note working days do not include public holidays but do include regional anniversary days). The public notification will include the address of where to send it to.

For assistance, contact the regulatory agencies in your area.

The applicant may ask to meet with the objectors to resolve issues

It is not uncommon for the applicant to seek to talk to the objectors to see if any perceived issues can be resolved. Remember that they have your contact details and the reasons for your objection.

It is up to you whether you meet the applicant. Do not feel coerced into doing so. Some communities have had successes with meeting applicants and issues have been resolved without a hearing taking place.

Try to attend the hearing if possible

If you want your objection to count you will need to attend the hearing. If you need to, arrange time off work and/or care for your children.

If you can’t attend the hearing please tell the hearings advisor, and nominate someone (another objector perhaps) to represent your objection.

Consider asking witnesses to present

Try to meet with other objectors or at least discuss the upcoming hearing with them. Identify any gaps, inconsistencies and how these might be addressed.

Arrange any witnesses and/or support people you might need. Think about noise specialists, etc.

If you are appearing on behalf of a group make sure everyone knows about the hearing, and allocate them a role if appropriate.

Prepare a short summary of your key points and practice it. Summarise any further evidence that you have gathered since submitting your objection.

Be prepared to be cross-examined

You might be cross-examined so put yourself in the shoes of the applicant and think about any possible questions that they may wish to ask or challenge you on. Prepare some possible responses to these.

You may also have the opportunity to cross examine the applicant. If the regulatory agencies (council inspectors, health, police) are opposing and presenting evidence, you may have the opportunity to cross examine them too.  Think about what questions you would like to ask them and write them down.

Please note that from May 2024, community members will no longer be allowed to be cross-examined by other parties (for example, industry legal representation).

Background information

Be on time.  Introduce yourself to Council staff when you arrive. 

There will be four areas for participants to sit. The regulatory agencies will sit on one side and the objectors opposite.  The applicant and their advisors sit opposite the committee chair and members.  The committee will enter the room last – it is customary for all parties to stand while the committee takes their seats.

Follow the direction of the DLC/ARLA chair and respect the authority of the Committee or Authority.  When speaking, speak clearly and confidently. If there is a microphone, ensure it is switched on when you speak (these sessions are usually recorded for transcription).

Submissions and cross examination

The hearing will start with the applicant making their case, providing statements and evidence to support their application and rebut concerns the reporting agencies or community objectors have identified.  Once the applicant has made their submissions, the District Licensing Committee Chair and members will have an opportunity to ask questions or cross examine the applicant.  Next the reporting agencies (Council Inspector, Police, Health) will have the opportunity to cross examine the applicant, followed by community objectors.  Next, the reporting agencies will be have the opportunity to make a submission, which the Committee, applicant, and community objectors will have the chance to cross examine.  Finally the community objectors have an opportunity to make their submissions. Once again all parties (the Committee, the reporting agencies, and the applicant) will have a chance to cross examine.  

After all the submissions have been made and all parties have had a chance to cross examine each others submissions, some closing submissions may be made - sometimes this is done in writing after the hearing to save time on the day.  The Committee Chair will usually let everyone know when a decision could be expected.

Please note that from May 2024, community members will no longer be allowed to be cross-examined by other parties (for example, industry legal representation).

After the hearing – the decision

You will be advised of the decision and if you are not happy with this you have the right to appeal it. The information about how to do this and when should be included in the correspondence with the decision.

here are the references