Licensed premises in Waikato district are being advised of important changes to alcohol trading rules on restricted trading days.
The Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Sales on Anzac Day Morning, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Christmas Day) Amendment Act 2026 came into force on 3 April 2026.
All businesses with on-licences can now open and sell alcohol as per their normal trading hours on Anzac Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Christmas Day. Any condition on an individual licence which specifies that no alcohol is to be sold or supplied on these days no longer applies. The change includes removing the requirement that alcohol may only be served to people dining or lodging at on-licensed premises.
More information can be found on the Ministry of Justice webpage.
What has changed
Under the previous law | Under the new law subject to any Local Alcohol Policy (LAP) requirements and all licence conditions not related to restricted trading days |
On-licensed premises such as bars, restaurants, and cafes could sell alcohol for consumption on site on restricted trading days but only to customers who were “on the premises to dine” or who are “residing” on the premises (e.g., people staying in a hotel). | All on-licence premises can sell alcohol to be consumed on site on any day of the year. Customers do not have to be dining or residing in order to be served alcohol. On-licence premises no longer need to close at midnight before a restricted trading day. Premises with an on-licence can choose to open and operate as normal on Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Anzac Day, and Christmas Day. |
Some on-licensed premises could not sell alcohol on restricted trading days e.g. those who do not cater for “diners” such as nightclubs. Some were not permitted to be open under the Shop Trading Hours Act 1990. | |
Off-licensed premises could not sell alcohol on restricted trading days - except for holders of an off-licence selling or supplying wine made either on the premises or from produce harvested from land on which the premises are situated (known as “cellar doors”) – who could serve the wine on Easter Sunday. | Off-licensed premises cannot sell alcohol on restricted trading days ΜΆ except for holders of an off-licence selling or supplying wine made either on the premises or from produce harvested from land on which the premises are situated - who may sell their wine on any day of the year. |
RSAs could not serve members of the public who were not members of the club. | RSAs may serve members of the public on Anzac Day, so long as a duty manager is on site during the hours that members of the public are on the premises. |
Special licences and club licences (other than RSAs) are not affected. | |
All other licence conditions and any LAP requirements continue to apply. Licence holders must also continue to meet all obligations under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012, including the Act's requirements relating to minors, intoxication, responsible service etc.
