Alcohol Licensing
The sale and supply of alcohol to any member of the public requires a licence under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012.
The object of this Act is to ensure that the sale, supply and consumption of alcohol is undertaken safely and responsibly and the harm caused by the excessive or inappropriate consumption of alcohol is minimised.
Whanganui District Council, like all other local authorities, oversees the administration of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 within its district.
If you have any questions about alcohol licensing, please contact us at (06) 349 0001.
Alcohol licensing deadlines - 2025-26 holiday period
If you plan to sell alcohol at an event or function, or operate outside of your current licence conditions, you must apply for a special licence through the District Licensing Committee via the Whanganui District Council. Applications must be received at least 20 working days before the event.
The period from 20 December 2025 to 15 January 2026 is not counted as working days.
This means any special licence applications for events in early 2026 must be submitted no later than Friday, 21 November 2025.
The same timeframe applies to On, Off, and Club licence renewals. If your licence expires in January 2026, the renewal must also be submitted by Friday, 21 November 2025 to ensure it can be processed in time.
If you need signage (e.g. no minors, no intoxicated persons permitted), please contact the Whanganui District Council Environmental Health team or Te Whatu Ora.
Changes to the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012
The Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Community Participation) Amendment Act 2023 (the Amendment Act) makes it easier for communities to have a say in alcohol regulation in their area, by making targeted changes to the alcohol licensing process in the Act. Read more about the changes here