Apply for a new Club Licence

You need a Club Licence to sell or supply alcohol to authorised customers for consumption at a club.

Before you apply

Applying for Building & Planning Approval for Licenced Premises

Before you apply for a  Club Licence, you'll need to apply for Building & Planning Approval for Licenced Premises (this doesn't apply to conveyances).

This application will be reviewed by Building Officers and Resource Management Planners to ensure the proposed use of the premises for the sale of alcohol meets the requirements of the Building Act 2004 and Resource Management Act 1991. It must be approved before a new licence application can be processed, however both forms can be submitted at the same time if desired.

The fee for an Application for Building & Planning Approval (previously called a Certificate of Compliance New Liquor Licence) is separate from the new Club Licence application fee.

Apply online

Application for Building & Planning Approval for Licenced Premises (print version)(PDF, 168KB)

Food Registration

If your business already has a food registration there's no need to do anything. If your business doesn't have a food registration, you'll need to apply for one on our Food Registration page.

What you need to apply

You'll need:

  • a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation / Memorandum of Association (only if the application is for a Company, Incorporated Society or Club)
  • a letter of consent from the owner of the premises (if you don't own the premises)
  • a copy of the lease (if applicable)
  • a scale floor plan showing the principal (main) entrance; the area where alcohol will be sold and each area to be designated (Supervised or Restricted) or undesignated; a seating plan of any outdoor areas or footpath area if applicable
  • a photo or artist's impression of the principal (main) entrance of the premises
  • an aerial map showing the exact location of the premises
  • copies of Manager's Certificates for all managers
  • a copy of the menu and a list of all alcoholic, low alcohol (less than 2.5% alcohol) and non-alcoholic drinks that will be provided
  • a copy of the Host Responsibility Policy to be displayed in your premises
  • a copy of a letter from Fire & Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) re the evacuation scheme
  • Public Notice - Form 7 to be advertised on our website (included if applying online)
  • Public Notice - Form 7 to be displayed in premises window in an obvious place (included if applying online)
  • the Building Consent number (if the premises is still under construction)
  • your payment information (credit card, debit card or internet banking details for POLi), if you're applying online.

Additional Documentation

In addition to the above, partner agencies (New Zealand Police and Te Whatu Ora Health NZ) may ask to view your records and registers as part of their compliance checks, including but not limited to:

  • Duty, Acting and Temporary Managers registers
  • Training register
  • Up-to-date alcohol management plan and host responsibility form.

Local Alcohol Policy

You'll need to be aware of the conditions set out in our Local Alcohol Policy and, in particular, the limits on maximum trading hours for licenced premises.

This policy provides local guidance to the Council’s District Licensing Committee in deciding whether to issue or renew a licence, and enables the District Licensing Committee to:

  • limit the location of licensed premises, for example near schools or churches
  • limit the number of licensed premises in particular areas
  • set the maximum trading hours for licensed premises in the District
  • impose or recommend conditions for licences.

The goal of LAP is to ensure that licensing decisions:

  • contribute to Horowhenua being a safe and healthy district
  • reflect the values, preferences and needs of the local community
  • encourage licensed environments that foster positive, responsible drinking behaviour and minimise alcohol-related harm.

How the Club Licence fee is calculated

The fee is determined by a cost/risk rating. The cost/risk rating is the sum of the highest applicable score.  A score is determined by the:

  • type of premises
  • latest alcohol sales time (latest trading hour allowed by licence)
  • number of recent enforcement actions.

The total fee payable is made up of the application fee and the annual fee.

Online

Step 1.Have your information and documents ready

You'll need electronic copies of:

  • the Certificate of Incorporation / Memorandum of Association (only if the application is for a Company, Incorporated Society or Club)
  • a letter of consent from the owner of the premises (if you don't own the premises)
  • the lease (if applicable)
  • a scale floor plan showing the principal (main) entrance; the area where alcohol will be sold and each area to be designated (Supervised or Restricted) or undesignated; a seating plan of any outdoor areas or footpath area if applicable
  • a photo or artist's impression of the principal (main) entrance of the premises
  • an aerial map showing the exact location of the premises
  • Manager's Certificates for all managers
  • the menu and a list of all alcoholic, low alcohol (less than 2.5% alcohol) and non-alcoholic drinks that will be provided
  • the Host Responsibility Policy to be displayed in your premises
  • a letter from Fire & Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) re the evacuation scheme

You'll also need:

  • the Building Consent number (if the premises is still under construction)
  • your payment information (credit card, debit card or internet banking details for POLi).

Step 2.Apply and pay online

Ensure you have your credit or debit card, or internet banking details for POLi, so you can pay and finalise your application online.

You'll need to allow at least 20 minutes to complete this form, provided you have all of your information ready.

Apply online

In Person

Step 1.Download and complete the application form

Application for Club Licence (Print Version)(PDF, 286KB)

Step 2.Bring in your application form and supporting documents

You'll need copies of:

  • the Certificate of Incorporation / Memorandum of Association (only if the application is for a Company, Incorporated Society or Club)
  • a letter of consent from the owner of the premises (if you don't own the premises)
  • the lease (if applicable)
  • a scale floor plan showing the principal (main) entrance; the area where alcohol will be sold and each area to be designated (Supervised or Restricted) or undesignated; a seating plan of any outdoor areas or footpath area if applicable
  • a photo or artist's impression of the principal (main) entrance of the premises
  • an aerial map showing the exact location of the premises
  • Manager's Certificates for all managers
  • the menu and a list of all alcoholic, low alcohol (less than 2.5% alcohol) and non-alcoholic drinks that will be provided
  • the Host Responsibility Policy to be displayed in your premises
  • a letter from Fire & Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) re the evacuation scheme
  • Public Notice - Form 7 to be advertised on our website
  • Public Notice - Form 7 to be displayed in premises window in an obvious place.

You'll also need:

  • the Building Consent number (if the premises is still under construction).

You can pay by cash or EFTPOS at any Horowhenua District Council office.

Step 3.Visit your nearest Council Office

Pop into your nearest Council office:

  • Levin (Main Office), 126 Oxford Street Levin, open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday (except Wednesdays) and 9.30am to 5pm Wednesday. Closed on weekends and public holidays.
  • Foxton Service Centre, 92 Main Street, Foxton, open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 4pm Saturday to Sunday (hours may differ on public holidays).
  • Shannon Service Centre, Plimmer Terrace, Shannon, open 10am to 12 noon and 1pm to 5pm Monday to Friday, Saturday only 10am to 12 noon.

Processing of your application

Once your application has been received (and matched with your payment) it will be sent to the following agencies to enquire into and report on before the Horowhenua District Licensing Committee makes a decision:

  • NZ Police (local branch)
  • Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand
  • Horowhenua District Council's Alcohol Licensing Inspector.

Please note that the statutory timeframe allowed for the processing of applications is 20 working days.

Privacy Act 2020

Personal information contained in your application and any supporting information will be held by Horowhenua District Council. It will be provided to the District Licensing Committee, NZ Police, Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand and Licensing inspectorate, and may be provided to the licensing authority, as part of the licensing process. Personal information and supporting information may be included in the District Licensing Committee's decision which will be publicly available.

Public Notice - Form 7

Public notice of your application must be published within 20 days after filing your application with the District Licensing Committee. This will be published on the Alcohol Public Notices section of our website.

Except in the case of a conveyance, you must ensure that notice of this application in Form 7 is attached an obvious place on, or adjacent to, the site which the application relates to within 10 working days after filing this application.

Contact Us

Phone

(06) 366 0999

Email

enquiries@horowhenua.govt.nz

Location

Horowhenua District Council
126 Oxford Street
Levin
5510
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