24 August 2022
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Liquor Licensing
Enquiry
I have been speaking with the owner of the Princes Gate Hotel Group and bought the Black Swan Boutique Hotel last December. They applied in January for a new liquor licence and it has not yet been approved.
Cindy Hao estimates it has lost at least $500,000 in revenue in that time as a result.
Hao said the council staff member responsible, a [name removed] for the applications was angry, and asked why they were calling when others had been waiting for six months with no feedback.
The council member told the staff member Hao needed to get in touch herself.
When Hao rang she was told it was her consultant who needed to call, who was then told the licence would be declined because Hao's English was not good enough, and that she thought Hao did not have enough knowledge needed to hold the licence.
Her consultant said this was not necessary, but Hao said she had studied since despite having an on-site pool team of seven duty managers.
She felt the council member wanted to make her life hard.
In June, Hao received an email from the council member saying there will be an on-site inspection which she needed to be there for.
There had been no feedback from that visit to date, nor any paperwork detailing if there was a problem with the application and what that was.
Her consultant, at the time of application, had said there was no problem. He expected a wait of two weeks to a month.
She says the business can't be run with out food and alcohol, but the business focused on a packaged experience, not just accom.
She said her team had the experience and there were no problems with the building itself. When council had asked for documents, she said it had given it all.
It had missed out on next year's peak marketing opportunities.
The marketing manager said the council staff member was the only one who dealt with the applications had hinted it was "my way or no way".
Hao said she planned legal action against council, and would ask council to pay for the lost revenue.
Can I please ask for a response to the above and answers to the below:
What is the process in obtaining a new liquor licence?
What is the average duration from submission to a decision?
Is this length of time acceptable?
What is the acceptable duration?
Are there others in the same situation?
Is there a backlog of applications and has anything been done to resolve this?
In this case, why has it taken seven months?
Any other comment?
Response
The following information and comment was provided:
From Kurt Williams, Manager, Community and Regulatory Services):
Re Ms Hao’s liquor licence application:
There is a legislated process Council is required to follow and Ms Hao’s agent is aware of this. We will continue to deal directly with Ms Hao and her agent regarding her application. We do not intend to run the process through the media – that would be inappropriate.
General info
The required process for a liquor licence application is summarised below:
Application received from applicant;
Application vetted by council;
Once council vetting is complete and payment has been made the application is sent to the Police and Medical Officer of Health (partner agencies) who are required to provide an independent report. Council’s inspector also produces a report, liaising with the applicant or their agent if/as needed;
Once council has received the reports from these two agencies council’s inspector finalises their report for the District Licensing Committee (DLC).
If there is no opposition to the application it is generally approved by the DLC;
If there is opposition or the DLC has some other reason for wanting a hearing, a hearing is held to assist the DLC in its decision making (the final decision on any application is made by the DLC, not the council).
NOTE TO REPORTER: you can see more about the process for applying for liquor licences HERE on Council’s website.
Re time it takes to process applications:
At the moment alcohol licensing reporting timeframes are subject to the Immediate Modification Order 2020 (IMO) for the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act which remains in force as long as the Government’s Epidemic Notice remains in place. Among other things, this IMO removed previously required timeframes for Police and Medical Officers of Health to produce reports on alcohol licence applications due to these agencies’ roles in the national covid-19 response. Under the IMO, reporting agencies are not required to furnish their reports until 30 days after the lifting of the Epidemic Notice. Currently, this is reviewed every three months by the Government with the next review due September 2022.
The IMO does not apply to Manager’s Certificates, Special Licences (ie for events) or Temporary Authorities (Temporary Authority lasts 3 months and can be granted if someone purchases a business with an existing on-licence while they apply for a new on-licence. This can be applied for more than once, as long as that existing licence has not expired). Someone seeking a renewal of an on-licence for a premise can operate under their old licence while they go through the application process.
NOTE TO REPORTER: you can find out more about the IMO HERE
Re backlog:
There is currently a backlog of about 25 applications that are currently waiting on reporting from the partner agencies. Please note this number is not static as the agencies are still reporting on applications when time permits. This allows licenses to progress in the order in which they were received.
NOTE TO REPORTER: Reporter was cautioned against publication of a potential staff officer’s name in relation to claims that could be incorrect and potentially defamatory.
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Media: NZME (Rotorua Daily Post and BOP Times)
Topic: Dog ownership
Enquiry
I'm reaching out to see whether you might be able to help me with a lifestyle article I'm writing for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post weekend magazine called essence.
I am a freelance journalist working from home for NZME.
It's a piece on what first-time dog owners should know before adopting a dog. I've interviewed a Papamoa dog trainer who has given her tips, opinions and thoughts; and she is very pro adopting a pound or rescue dog to give it a second chance at life, over purchasing an expensive dog from a breeder.
I'm interested to hear your thoughts on what you think first-time dog owners should take into consideration before adopting a pooch, how many dogs you have in the pound, and what the demand for adopting them has, or hasn't, been like. And why the public giving these dogs a loving home, could really help ease the pound's load.
Is someone available today (Wed) for a phone interview? It should only take 10-15 mins and I am happy to show you your comments before they go to print if you have any concerns.
Response
Reporter interviewed Council’s Animal Control Team Lead, Arana Waaka-Stockman, who provided information about Council’s rehoming programme, Rotorua Pound operations, animal control fees & charges, and responsible dog ownership.