Special licences

A special licence is required if you want to sell and supply liquor on a premises or conveyance (eg boat, train) at an occasion or event (or series of occasions or events).

The holder of the special licence must control the liquor at the event and must ensure that their statutory responsibilities are observed.

A special licence is only valid for the timeframe specified on the licence.

When a special licence is needed
BYO events
Party buses
How to apply
Timeframe

When a special licence is needed

A special licence is required if liquor is sold and supplied to anyone attending any occasion or event.

Examples of such occasions or events are fundraisers, theatrical performances, exhibitions and other temporary bar set-ups where liquor will be sold and supplied.

One special licence can cover one event on one day; or if it is a series of the same event on several different dates at the same venue (eg theatrical performances of the same play on ten different dates), this can be covered by one special licence.

In the event that more than one event is proposed for the same venue by the same applicant, this needs to be discussed with the inspector at the area office concerned.

When a special licence is not needed

• when you are supplying liquor to your guests in your own private residence;
• your guests are bringing liquor to your own private residence;
• if you are holding a genuine private social gathering in a public facility such as a hall and you are supplying liquor to your guests, as long as the public is not able to access the event a special licence may not be required.

If you are planning a social gathering in a public venue and access to the public is not restricted, then a special licence for sale and supply must be obtained.

Any questions as to the style of the proposed event are to be referred to the inspector at the area office concerned.

BYO events

Under no circumstances can a special licence be obtained for a BYO event. If such events are held then a liability situation could exist under s.153 of the Sale of Liquor Act 1989 - Use of unlicensed premises as a place of resort for the consumption of liquor.

Party bus events

Special licences can only be issued for party buses when liquor is being sold and supplied on the bus (as is the case with all other special licences). The special event to which the application relates must take place on the bus itself.

Under no circumstances can a special licence be issued for a BYO event on a party bus.

How to apply

Complete the special licence application form and submit it along with the following:

• the fee of $64.40 ( inclusive GST). This is non-refundable irrespective of the outcome of the application. Please do not send cash in the mail
• if you do not own the proposed premises, the owner's written consent must be included with the application
• a floor plan of the premises must be included with the application.

Forms

Special licence application form (premises) (PDF 124kb)
Special licence application form (conveyance) (PDF 104kb)

Please note you must be over 20 years of age to apply. The individual/organisation taking the profit from the sale of liquor should be the applicant.

Two copies of the application with supporting documentation and the required fee should be sent to:

The Secretary - (specify relevant Council office as stated below)
Auckland District Licensing Agency
Auckland Council
Private Bag 92 300
Auckland 1142

(Auckland City, Manukau, Orewa, Papakura, Pukekohe, Takapuna, or Waitakere)

Special licences cannot be renewed. However, if you know the dates of future events and they are within the next 12 months in the same venue, you may be able to apply for these future events on the one application. The number of future events that can be applied for will depend on the nature of these proposed events.

Apply online in Auckland central

If the event is being held in a premises in central Auckland, you are able to submit your application online.

Apply online now

Timeframe

The processing time for an application can be up to 30 working days. This includes 20 working days specified by the Sale of Liquor Act 1989.

Controversial applications or profit-orientated commercial applications may need to be publicly notified and additional time may be required to process these. If a public hearing is required additional time will need to be allowed for.