Local Alcohol Policy
This consultation has now closed.
What happened with the policy?
On 15 May 2025 elected members agreed to:
-reduce hours of trade for all off licences (bottle stores, supermarkets, grocery stores) from 10am to 7pm, to 9am-9pm from 5 January 2026.
-establish new priority areas where new off-licences will not be approved without good reason. These areas are: Porirua East (Cannons Creek and Waitangirua, plus part of Ranui), Elsdon/Takapuwahia, Titahi Bay and Porirua’s City Centre including Kenepuru. Waitangirua was included at the request of elected members.
-require all licensees within a 100m radius of schools and addiction treatment centres to complete an impact assessment showing how they plan to mitigate the effects of alcohol use and promotion on sensitive site users.
-additions to potential discretionary licence conditions in the LAP (conditions that the DLC or ARLA can add to a licence if required).
The new policy will come into force from 18 July 2025, except the new hours which will come into force from 5 January 2026.
Porirua City is consulting on the review of its 2017 Local Alcohol Policy and new draft Local Alcohol Policy in accordance with the Local Government Act 2002 (the LGA) and the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 (the Act).
This review involves analysing local demographics and alcohol-related harm, with input from our communities, the Police, licensing inspectors, and health officials.
Our research suggests that:
- Porirua has persistent issues relating to alcohol harm
- there are higher risk factors and disproportionate alcohol harms in areas of high deprivation
- the current policy has very little impact on reducing or preventing alcohol harm. Many of the suburbs that have high levels of alcohol harm (crime, victimisation, alcohol related health issues) also have high numbers of alcohol licences, in particular off-licences (premises that sell alcohol to take away and drink elsewhere)
the evidence supports the view that Council should look at developing additional policy levers that could have a greater impact in reducing alcohol harm. Additionally, targeted approaches could ensure that those most vulnerable to alcohol harm are prioritised.
All options have been developed to support an equity-led and harm minimisation approach to reflect the research and evidence, which looks like:
- Making alcohol less accessible in areas vulnerable to alcohol harm.
- Providing a wider range of discretionary conditions to tackle key issues identified or possible gaps in licensing.
- Taking a balanced approach between protecting those most vulnerable, with future growth and hospitality.
The options focus more on off-licences (places you buy alcohol to take away and drink elsewhere – like bottle stores or retail shops), rather than on-licences (places you buy alcohol to drink on the premises – like bars and restaurants).
We are looking forward to testing these options with our community to hear what is important to them, and where they would like to see changes.
Making a submission – submissions close 7 March 2025
You can find copies of this proposal at all Porirua City libraries, and at our front counter at Customer Services, Porirua City Council, 16 Cobham Court, Porirua 5022.
You can have your say in a number of ways:
- make a written or video submission at the bottom of this webpage. You can also download a submission form from the right hand side menu, under Consultation documents.
- by email to: submissions@poriruacity.govt.nz with “Local Alcohol Policy 2025 ” in the subject line.
- by hand at:
- front counter, 16 Cobham Court, Porirua City
- any of our libraries
- by post:
Freepost 4517
Local Alcohol Policy 2025
Porirua City Council
PO Box 50218
Porirua City 5240.
Your submission is subject to meeting the moderation criteria – you can find out more here.
Your privacy
All submissions are public information. This supports our drive to be as transparent as possible, but if there are any personal details you don’t want made public, please let us know.
We collect demographic data to help us identify whether we are reaching the voices from all areas of our community. Providing demographic information is optional.
Want to know more?
If you have any questions, or would like more information, please email us at submissions@poriruacity.govt.nz or call on (04) 237 5089.
What happened with the policy?
On 15 May 2025 elected members agreed to:
-reduce hours of trade for all off licences (bottle stores, supermarkets, grocery stores) from 10am to 7pm, to 9am-9pm from 5 January 2026.
-establish new priority areas where new off-licences will not be approved without good reason. These areas are: Porirua East (Cannons Creek and Waitangirua, plus part of Ranui), Elsdon/Takapuwahia, Titahi Bay and Porirua’s City Centre including Kenepuru. Waitangirua was included at the request of elected members.
-require all licensees within a 100m radius of schools and addiction treatment centres to complete an impact assessment showing how they plan to mitigate the effects of alcohol use and promotion on sensitive site users.
-additions to potential discretionary licence conditions in the LAP (conditions that the DLC or ARLA can add to a licence if required).
The new policy will come into force from 18 July 2025, except the new hours which will come into force from 5 January 2026.
