How to object to an alcohol licensing application

To make an objection to an alcohol licence application, you must be a person of 'greater interest'. This means you are more likely to be affected by the licence than most other members of the general public.

An example of a person with a greater interest is someone living in the same street as the proposed licensed premises. Someone living 10 kilometres away who is concerned about the effects of alcohol on the community may be considered as not having a greater interest in the application.

However, the Waikato District Licensing Committee (DLC) may give weight to objections from those who will not be directly affected by the proposed licensed premises.

How to make an objection

Your objection must be in writing and you must address the grounds for your objection. The objection must be filed with the Waikato District Licensing Committee (DLC) within 15 working days of the first public notice appearing on the our website.

Post your objection to:

The Secretary
Waikato District Licensing Committee
Waikato District Council
Private Bag 544
Ngaruawahia 3742 

or email to: css@waidc.govt.nz and dlc@waidc.govt.nz. 

Upon receipt of an objection, the District Licensing Committee will send an acknowledgment letter. The licensee will also receive notice of the objection. The District Licensing Committee will then check the validity of the objection. A time will be set for a hearing and objectors will be asked whether they wish to speak at the hearing. 

How to view an application 

An application may be inspected by any member of the public during ordinary office hours at the Customer Service Centre at Waikato District Council 15 Galileo Street Ngaruawahia (Please phone beforehand on (07) 824 8633 or email us at css@waidc.govt.nz, to arrange a time to view the file.)

All public notices for licence applications in the Waikato District Council area are advertised on our website.

Grounds for objection

No objection may be made in relation to a matter other than the criteria specified in (new licence applications) or (renewal applications) of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012: 

For a new on-/off-/club licence:

  • "the object of the Act
  • the suitability of the applicant
  • any relevant local alcohol policy
  • the days on which and the hours during which the applicant proposes to sell alcohol
  • the design and layout of any proposed premises
  • whether the applicant is engaged in, or proposes on the premises to engage in, the sale of goods other than alcohol, low-alcohol refreshments, non-alcoholic refreshments, and food, and if so, which goods
  • whether the applicant is engaged in, or proposes on the premises to engage in, the provision of services other than those directly related to the sale of alcohol, low-alcohol refreshments, non-alcoholic refreshments, and food, and if so, which services
  • whether the amenity and good order of the locality would be likely to be reduced, to more than a minor extent, by the effects of the issue of the licence
  • whether (in its opinion) the amenity and good order of the locality are already so badly affected by the effects of the issue of existing licences that
  • (i) they would be unlikely to be reduced further (or would be likely to be reduced further to only a minor extent) by the effects of the issue of the licence; but
  • (ii) it is nevertheless desirable not to issue any further licences
  • whether the applicant has appropriate systems, staff, and training to comply with the law".

For a renewal of on-/off-/club licence:

  • "the object of the Act
  • the suitability of the applicant
  • any relevant local alcohol policy
  • the days on which and the hours during which the applicant proposes to sell alcohol
  • the design and layout of any proposed premises
  • whether the applicant is engaged in, or proposes on the premises to engage in, the sale of goods other than alcohol, low-alcohol refreshments, non-alcoholic refreshments, and food, and if so, which goods
  • whether the applicant is engaged in, or proposes on the premises to engage in, the provision of services other than those directly related to the sale of alcohol, low-alcohol refreshments, non-alcoholic refreshments, and food, and if so, which services
  • whether the applicant has appropriate systems, staff, and training to comply with the law
  • whether the amenity and good order of the locality would be likely to be increased, by more than a minor extent, by the effects of a refusal to renew the licence
  • the manner in which the applicant has sold (or, as the case may be, sold and supplied), displayed, advertised, or promoted alcohol".