Council gives updated local alcohol policy the go-ahead

Published on 15 August 2025

Whanganui District Council has adopted its updated local alcohol policy, setting clearer rules for alcohol licensing to help reduce alcohol-related harm while supporting a vibrant hospitality sector.

The council’s strategy and policy manager, David Gurney, says the policy, developed under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012, follows extensive public consultation with 82 written submissions and nine oral presentations heard by councillors.

“Community feedback highlighted strong support for minimising harm, particularly in vulnerable communities, alongside concerns from businesses about potential economic impacts,” David Gurney says.

Key changes in the updated policy include:

• new decision-making criteria for the District Licensing Committee, including enforcement history, type of licence, trading hours, and location factors such as deprivation, proximity to sensitive sites and zoning
• a cap of 10 bottle store licences across the district, with a clear definition of “bottle store” to distinguish them from boutiques such as cellar doors and wineries
• no off-licence alcohol sales after 9.00pm (with 7.00am opening retained)
• retention of a one-way door restriction for on-licences, moved from 1.00am to midnight (this approach has been shown to reduce alcohol harm by encouraging customers to leave a premises gradually instead of all at once)
• Discretionary conditions to check age and intoxication for deliveries for remote alcohol sales.

Mayor Andrew Tripe says the policy strikes a balance between reducing harm and maintaining a thriving hospitality scene.

“We’ve listened to the community and worked to create a policy that addresses alcohol harm, especially in our most vulnerable areas, while recognising the important role of hospitality in Whanganui’s economy.”

For more information, visit: https://www.whanganui.govt.nz/Business/Alcohol-Licensing/Local-Alcohol-Policy