Apply for a manager's certificate

Please note that part of our application process includes interviewing applicants. This can be during a new, or renewal, application.

A manager on duty on any licensed premises is responsible for:

• The compliance with, and enforcement of, the provisions of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012
• The conditions of the licence in force for the premises in which you intend to use the Manager’s Certificate
• The conduct of the premises with the aim of contributing to the reduction of alcohol-related harm

The purpose of the interview is to ascertain the strength of your knowledge of alcohol laws, licence conditions, and your experience with the sale and supply of alcohol. It is also to ensure you are maintaining your knowledge, responsibilities and obligations as a duty manager and still meet the criteria to hold a Manager’s Certificate.

You will be invited to meet with a Licensing Inspector for an interview if you are:

• Applying for a new Manager’s Certificate
• A manager renewing with Hutt City Council for the first time
• An owner/operator that holds a manager’s certificate
• Responsible for training other staff
• Applying to renew your Manager’s Certificate and have not completed an interview in several years or had difficulty during the previous interview

If you'd like advice or help through the application process, we recommend making an appointment to see a licensing inspector. They can talk you through the paperwork and explain Council's policies.

The Health Promotion Agency has developed two guides which you can find at alcohol.org.nz. The guides are designed to help people applying for a licence, preparing for a District Licensing Committee hearing, or objecting to the grant of a licence.

Get in touch with us to set up a meeting. Please give at least one business day's notice so we can arrange your appointment.

Request an appointment with a licensing inspector

Go to the right district licensing committee

You should only apply to Hutt City Council (your local district licensing committee) if your business is based within the boundaries of Lower Hutt. This includes:

• Wainuiomata
• Petone
• Eastbourne.

A new manager’s certificate expires after 12 months. In most cases, renewals expire after three years. It is the applicant's responsibility to apply for a renewal before the expiry date.

Incomplete applications (without all information, supporting documentation and payment) will not be accepted/processed.

PAYMENT:

Please note that a new application will not be processed until payment has been received.

For renewal applications payment must be made before the expiry date of your Manager’s Certificate. Failure to do so may result in your Manager’s Certificate expiring.

Apply for a new Manager’s Certificate

To apply for a new Manager’s Certificate, you will need to complete the Manager’s Certificate form and email it to sol@huttcity.govt.nz .

The supporting documents you will need to provide with the completed application form, as shown on the checklist, include:

• A copy of the Licence Controller Qualification (LCQ) Certificate issued with the Sale and Supply of Alcohol 2012 NZQA unit standards.

Or

• A copy of the LCQ Certificate issued with the Sale of Liquor Act 1989 NZQA unit standards AND a copy of the LCQ Bridging Test Certificate.

And

• A copy of your photo identification (ie current passport or driver’s licence).
• One recent (less than 3 months old) signed and dated character reference that is from a person that has known you for more than one year and does not work at your current place of employment or for your current employer (note references from family members/relatives are not acceptable).
• One signed and dated work reference from the current employer of the licensed premises you intend to manage.
• Information showing your experience managing a licensed premises.
• Evidence showing your right to work in New Zealand (ie work visa) – if applicable.

Apply to renew your Manager’s Certificate

To apply for the renewal of your Manager’s Certificate, you will need to complete the Application for renewal of Manager’s Certificate and email it to sol@huttcity.govt.nz . Please note that an invoice will be provided upon receipt of the completed application for immediate payment to avoid expiry.

The supporting documents you will need to provide with the completed application form, as shown on the checklist, include:

• A recent letter signed and dated from the employer of the licensed premises where you are employed, confirming your employment.
• Evidence of your right to work in New Zealand (ie work visa) – if applicable.

If this is your first time renewing with Hutt City Council, you will also need to supply:

• A copy of the Licence Controller Qualification (LCQ) Certificate issued with the Sale and Supply of Alcohol 2012 NZQA unit standards.

Or

• A copy of the LCQ Certificate issued with the Sale of Liquor Act 1989 NZQA unit standards AND a copy of the LCQ Bridging Test Certificate.

And

• A copy of your photo identification (ie current passport or driver’s licence).
• A copy of your current Manager’s Certificate and the latest renewal notice (if applicable), if this was not issued by the Lower Hutt District Licensing Committee.

Notification of appointment/termination of certificate holding manager and/or the appointment of a temporary or acting manager

A licensee must notify the District Licensing Committee and Police when they appoint, or terminate the employment of, a certificate holding manager. Please note that this is a separate procedure to the grant and issue of a Manager’s Certificate and must be completed for each appointment/termination separately to the application process.

A licensee may appoint a temporary or an acting manager (depending on circumstances) if a certificate holding manager is ill, absent, dismissed or resigns.

The licensee must complete the Notice of Management Change form, email it to the two email addresses shown on the bottom of the form, and update the Manager’s Register with the details.

Failure to properly notify the appointment of a manager can mean that alcohol is being unlawfully sold and supplied and may result in an infringement fee.

When a complete application with all supporting documentation has been lodged and the fee paid, the application is assigned to a Licensing Inspector and a report is requested from our partner reporting agency, Police.

The Licensing Inspector will be in touch if any additional information is needed, or to arrange a suitable interview date if applicable.

Once the Licensing Inspector has completed their enquiry into the application, and no opposition has been received, the Licensing Inspector will send a report with your application to the Lower Hutt District Licensing Committee (DLC) for a decision on the grant of your new, or renewal, certificate application.

If opposition is received to your application, the DLC may set a public hearing. The DLC are the final decision makers for all applications.

The following diagrams show the alcohol licence application process, and how long each step can take:

• Manager’s certificate process (PDF 69.1 KB)
• Renewal of manager’s certificate process (PDF 68.8 KB)

New applications will take at least six weeks for uncontested applications. If the application is contested it can take much longer to process.

We need a minimum of 20 working days to process your renewal application.

What you have to pay for your licence depends on many things like the type of premise you operate and your risk category.

Fees and charges

Information contained in your application and any supporting information will be held by Hutt City Council to enable your application to be processed under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012.

Information regarding this application will be made available to the public on request. The information will be provided to the:

• Lower Hutt District Licensing Committee,
• Police,
• Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority,
• Council’s Licensing Inspectors, and
• Medical Officer of Health

This information may form part of a public hearing of your application before the Lower Hutt District Licensing Committee and may be used in the Committee’s decision for your application.

You have the right to ask for a copy of any personal information we hold about you, and to ask for it to be corrected if you think it is wrong. If you’d like to ask for a copy of your information, or to have it corrected, please contact us at sol@huttcity.govt.nz or at our customer service front desk at 30 Laings Road, Lower Hutt.