Rotorua Council Seeks Input On Proposed Alcohol Outlet Freeze

Friday, 28 February 2025, 6:39 pm
Article: Laura Smith - Local Democracy Reporter

Supermarkets, bottle stores and Rotorua residents can have their say on a proposed freeze on new alcohol outlets.

On Wednesday, Rotorua Lakes councillors approved holding public consultation on its Draft Statement of Proposal on the Local Alcohol Policy 2025.

It was developed after two workshops and a raft of statistics and data highlighting both the economic benefit and overall harm of alcohol sales.

The majority of proposals focused on off-licences, such as bottle shops, and included a three-year freeze on any new approvals and a presumption against them afterwards.

This would aim to allow a focus on reducing alcohol harm, including harm from existing premises. It could also reduce competition.

New off-licences would be required to engage with "a wider set of sensitive and community facilities" within 200 metres before applying. This would include hospitals and rehabilitation centres.

Another proposal is reducing trading hours to 7am-9pm, generally an hour less than now - similar to Auckland's recent policy change.

On-licence premises, such as bars and restaurants, in the inner city would have to stop selling alcohol by 2am instead of 3am.

This could reduce the burden on emergency services but also had the "potential to reduce nightlife options for residents and tourists".

At the meeting, councillor Fisher Wang said: "We all see the damage and harm [of] alcohol abuse, how that occurs in our community.

"The social harm, the financial harm and much more as well."

He looked forward to community feedback, particularly from youth, "who may have grown up and experienced households that have unfortunately suffered alcohol abuse".

Hearing from those directly affected would ensure the council "got this right", he said.

Consultation runs from Friday to 31 March, followed by a hearing and final decision.

It will include the general public as well as several targeted stakeholder meetings with those affected by the proposed policy, including all licensed owners, iwi, health providers, police, inspectors and community groups.

Rotorua recently set the national record for the highest opposition to an off-licence application, and strong community feedback from a council-run survey alongside the potential impact to outlets suggested to staff that consultation would be divisive.

The seven-member district licensing committee refused two managers' applications last year, declined one on-licence variation and one temporary authority.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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