Draft Ōtorohanga Alcohol Fees Bylaw 2026
We’re proposing changes to the fees businesses and organisations pay for alcohol licences in the Ōtorohanga District - and we want to hear what you think.
Ōtorohanga District Council is consulting on a new Draft Alcohol Fees Bylaw 2026, which would allow Council to increase alcohol licensing fees to better reflect the actual cost of providing alcohol licensing services.
Consultation is open from 7 September to 6 October 2026.
WHAT ARE WE PROPOSING?
Currently, alcohol licensing fees are set nationally under government regulations and have not increased since 2013.
Over that time, the cost of administering alcohol licences has increased. This includes staff time, District Licensing Committee hearings, education, monitoring and enforcement.
At the moment, the fees paid by licence holders recover only around 30% of Council’s alcohol licensing costs, with the remaining costs funded through rates.
We’re proposing to introduce an Alcohol Fees Bylaw so we can increase the amount recovered from alcohol licence holders and reduce the amount subsidised by ratepayers.
Our preferred option is to increase fees from 1 July 2027.
This is expected to increase cost recovery from around 30% to approximately 42% in 2027/28. Ratepayers would therefore still contribute towards the cost of alcohol licensing, but considerably less than they do now.
WHY DO WE NEED A BYLAW?
Council cannot simply decide to change alcohol licensing fees.
The fees we currently charge are set under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Fees) Regulations 2013. To set different fees locally, Council must adopt an Alcohol Fees Bylaw under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012.
The current nationally set fees have remained unchanged since 2013, while the cost of providing licensing services has continued to increase.
Creating the Bylaw would give Council the ability to set local fees that better reflect these costs.
WHO WOULD BE AFFECTED?
The proposed changes would affect fees associated with alcohol licensing, including:
- application and annual fees for licensed premises
- special licences
- temporary authorities
- temporary licences
- permanent club charters
- extracts from the licensing register.
The proposed Bylaw would not change Manager’s Certificate fees.
The full schedule of proposed fees is available in the Draft Alcohol Fees Bylaw 2026 and Statement of Proposal.
WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS?
Option 1 - Introduce the Alcohol Fees Bylaw (Council’s preferred option)
Under this option, alcohol licensing fees would increase from 1 July 2027.
This would increase Council’s cost recovery from around 30% currently to approximately 42% in 2027/28, reducing the amount funded through rates.
Option 2 - Keep things as they are
Council would not introduce the Bylaw and would continue charging the nationally prescribed alcohol licensing fees.
Fees would not increase, but as Council’s costs continue to rise, the proportion of alcohol licensing costs funded by ratepayers is expected to increase.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER 2027/28?
The proposed fees would take effect from 1 July 2027.
Following the initial increase, alcohol licensing fees would be considered as part of Council’s regular Fees and Charges Schedule review, with the next review anticipated to take effect from 1 July 2028.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Before we make a final decision, we want to know what you think.
You can provide feedback on the Draft Alcohol Fees Bylaw 2026 between 7 September and 6 October 2026
You can complete the online submission form by clicking here.
KEY DATES
7 September 2026 - Consultation opens
6 October 2026 - Consultation closes
27 October 2026 - Hearing and deliberations
24 November 2026 - Council decision
QUESTIONS?
If you have questions about the proposal, please contact:
Tony Quickfall
Group Manager Regulatory & Growth
Email: tonyq@otodc.govt.nz
Phone: 07 873 4379
Your feedback will help Council decide whether to adopt the proposed Alcohol Fees Bylaw and how alcohol licensing costs should be funded in the future.
