Changes to the Wairarapa Local Alcohol Policy – Kaupapa Here Waipiro ā-Rohe o Wairarapa

Masterton, Carterton and South Wairarapa district councils (the Wairarapa district councils) share a joint Wairarapa Local Alcohol Policy, made under sections 75 and 76 of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 (the Act). The policy has undergone a review, and consultation is now open on the proposed changes.

The consultation runs until 4pm on Sunday 20 October.

The Act allows local councils to develop local alcohol policies. A local alcohol policy (LAP) is a set of decisions made by a local authority in consultation with its community about the sale and supply of alcohol in its geographic area. Once a LAP is in place, District Licensing Committees (DLCs) must consider it when they make decisions about alcohol licensing applications.

The purpose of the LAP is to:

promote the safe and responsible sale, supply and consumption of alcohol
reflect the views of our communities
provide certainty and clarity for applicants and the public.

The Wairarapa District Councils consider that, on the whole, the Policy is working well. However, we are proposing some changes based on the findings of our research and feedback from stakeholders (including Police, licensing inspectors and the Medical Officer of Health) to better achieve the purpose of the policy, considering up to date research and local circumstances.

Read a copy of the proposed LAP. A series of changes are proposed to the LAP and are outlined in the Statement of Proposa l. Key proposed changes, detailed under Questions and Answers, include:

no new off-licences will be granted for premises within 100m of a sensitive site
changing the maximum trading hours for off-licence premises from 7am to 10pm, to 9am to 10pm (excluding suermarkets and grocery stores)
rather than restricting the licensee to one entertainment evening a month it is proposed to allow up to 12 events under a special licence in any 12-month period
special licences will not be granted for events focused on children and young people aged under 18 years old
requiring the District Licensing Committee, when considering licence applications, to take into account the appropriateness of associating the consumption of alcohol with driving events.

Have your say:

Click here to complete our online submission form
Download a fillable pdf submission form and email to: submissions@mstn.govt.nz
Pick up a submission form from one of our libraries or customer service centres or print out our printer-friendly form
Post it to Masterton District Council, Freepost 112477, PO Box 444, Masterton 5840, or drop it off to one of our libraries or customer service centres.
Masterton District Council 161 Queen Street, Masterton
Carterton District Council 28 Holloway Street, Carterton
South Wairarapa District Council 19 Kitchener Street, Martinborough
Phone the Masterton team on 06 370 6300 between 9am and 4pm Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) and tell us what you think.

For people wanting to formally present their views, a joint hearing by two elected representatives of each of the District Councils will be held on Wednesday 23 October 2024 in Carterton. You will need to indicate on your submission form that you would like to participate in the hearing.