Photo by Patrick Case
Waipā’s alcohol compliance manager has hit out at the government for fast-tracking legislation which extended liquor licencing hours during the Rugby World Cup.
Karl Tutty
Karl Tutty says it is concerning the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act, which focusses on reducing alcohol related harm, is being used to increase hours during the cup, when harm is more likely to occur.
“The lack of communication around the Rugby World Cup amendment was disappointing.
There was no contact with this council/District Licensing committee until late July when the bill had been enacted,” he said in his annual report to the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority for the year ended June 30.
The licensing committee had seen an increase in labour and employment issues including cases where licensees were underpaying staff and taking advantage of migrant workers, he said in the report tabled at this week’s Waipā District Council meeting.
Tutty told councillors while he had been disappointed about the Rugby World Cup bill, subsequent communication from the Ministry of Justice had been very good.
“They’ve stepped up their game in that space,” he said.
Asked to report on any other changes or trends, Tutty said more applications have been received for remote sellers or premises wanting to do on-site and remote sales.
There had also been a growth in small brewing and distilling companies plus there had been a continued growth in enquiries which were not foreseen by the act and struggled to fit licence types and criteria.
Tutty criticised the lack of progress on a national database for manager certificate holders making it harder to track who is listed to work where.
“Some people are listed working as duty manager over multiple districts.”
Jim Mylchreest
For the second year running Tutty urged the government to review the act. Last year then mayor Jim Mylchreest said reports from Tutty and his counterparts around the country seemed to go “into a large black hole.”
The committee processed a record 412 applications, the highest since the act came into force in 2012.
It granted 24 new on licences and renewed another 19; issued 106 new managers’ certificates with one refused.
The number of licences in Waipā as at June 30 were 73 on-licences, 37 off-licences and 29 club licences.
There was a significant increase in the number of special licences – 42 last year to 134 – largely due to the return of large events and the National Agricultural Fieldays occurring twice within the reporting period.
Social and support organisations were asking to see more applications while the committee was providing more assistance to the public so they were more aware of applications.
Marcus Gower
“There has also been greater media interest,” said Tutty, a reference in part to The News’ continued interest in liquor applications.
Waipā’s District Licensing Committee is chaired by commissioner Sara Grayson and includes deputy chair Cr Marcus Gower and members Ross Murphy, Patsi Davies, Michael Cameron, Roy Johnson, Tegan McIntyre and John Gower.
Its purpose is to consider and determine applications for licences, manager’s certificates, renewal of licenses and manager’s certificates, temporary authorities and other matters pursuant to section 187 of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012.
