Council proposes 'one-way system' in liquor bylaws

30th July 2010

Whangarei District Council will set its new liquor licensing bylaws next month.

The council met  on Wednesday to adopt new trading hours for on and off-licensed liquor premises in the district after receiving 103 submissions on the proposal.

But the meeting was quickly adjourned as the council was waiting for more information from one of the submitters.

The council will now meet to consider recommendations for the new laws on August 18.

In February, the council decided to review the district's liquor licensing bylaws and presented a draft policy for the public to make submissions.

For on-licensed premises in central Whangarei, the council is recommending trading hours be between 8am and 3am.

A one-way door system between 1am and 3am is also proposed.

The council is proposing that off-licensed premises be allowed to sell liquor from 9am to 10pm.

On-licensed premises adjacent to residential areas would be allowed to operate between 8am and 11pm Sundays to Thursdays and 8am to 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.

On-licensed premised isolated from residential areas would be allowed to open from 8am to 1am all week.

If approved by councillors, the proposed licensing hours will come into force on December 31, 2012, after the Rugby World Cup.