News Release 
Friday 27 September 2013

Rotorua Council appoints members to first District Licensing Committee

ROTORUA 27.09.13:  Rotorua District Council (RDC) appointed four members to the newly formed District Licensing Committee at last night’s council meeting (25 September). 

The formation of the District Licensing Committee (DLC) is a result of the new Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 which comes into effect on 18 December.

The newly appointed committee members are Morris Meha, Alastair Gibson, Henry Weston and Juanita Conder. Their terms on the committee range from three to five years.

RDC Regulatory Services manager, Neven Hill, said the council’s appointment panel was impressed by all candidates and felt that those selected would bring the best mix of experience, skill and expertise to the new committee.

“The DLC will be there to give balance to our community’s concerns about the excessive and harmful consumption of alcohol and the effects this has. It addresses what has previously been seen by the community to be an imbalance of industry versus community interests.”

Mr Hill said many of the provisions of the new legislation were introduced to address the perceived lack of local communities’ power to influence a growing proliferation of alcohol outlets operating within their communities.

“An important emphasis of the Act is the formation and defined duties of the District Licensing Committee. This entity will now have the say on all applications received, whether for new premises or for renewals of various liquor licence types.

“And while the DLC and committee appointments don’t come into force until 18 December, it was essential to go through the appointment process prior to this date to ensure the committee would be trained and up-and-running when these new functions and powers are enacted,” he said.

The costs of operating the new District Licensing Committee and requirements of the Act will be met by increased licensing fees that central government has determined within the new regulations. 

ENDS

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