Some council services will be unavailable over the Christmas and New Year break.
Check if you need to apply or order before Friday 19 December 2025.
Online EFTPOS is temporarily down from 31 October 2025 while we do essential system upgrades. We expect the service to be back online in mid-2026. During this time, you will need to use another form of payment.
If you are taking over a business that already has a current alcohol licence, you can apply for a temporary authority.
Temporary authority allows you to sell and supply alcohol for up to three months under the existing terms and conditions of the current licence. This gives you time to lodge a new application.
We can't transfer an alcohol licence to a new owner.
We can't issue a temporary authority to a club.
For an on-licence business site, you will need to supply food for customers. This means that you will also need to transfer the existing food business registration.
Application fees cannot be refunded or transferred to a different application.
Visit Ways to pay online for information on all payment options.
Bring your completed application form and supporting documents to one of our libraries with council services and pay by:
Your application form will be reviewed by:
You should allow at least 15 working days for New Zealand Police
and one of our alcohol licensing inspectors to report on your
application.
We will forward your application to the District Licensing Committee who will make the final decision.
If the District Licensing Committee approves your application, we will email your temporary authority to you within two working days.
You need to display your temporary authority in a visible place by the main entrance to your premises, next to the existing on-licence or off-licence.
If there is opposition to your application, we will let you know.
