Our services
Alcohol licensing support from application to renewal.
Liquor Compliance provides practical support for New Zealand hospitality and alcohol businesses throughout the licensing process.
Whether you're opening a new premises, buying an existing licensed business, renewing a licence or applying for a manager's certificate, we help you understand what needs to be prepared and what happens next.
01
New licences
New on-licence
For eligible businesses where alcohol is sold or supplied for consumption on the licensed premises.
COMMON EXAMPLES
Restaurants
Cafés
Bars
Taverns
Pubs
Hotels
Nightclubs
Function centres
BYO restaurants
Cinemas
Theatres
Cellar doors
WE CAN HELP WITH
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Application preparation
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Supporting documents
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Premises information and plans
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Host responsibility information
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Manager information
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Public-notice requirements
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Application coordination
New off-licence
For eligible businesses where alcohol is sold or supplied for consumption away from the premises.
COMMON EXAMPLES
Bottle stores
Supermarkets
Grocery stores
Online sellers
Remote sellers
Cellar doors
WE CAN HELP WITH
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Application preparation
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Premises review
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Supporting documentation
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Remote-sales considerations
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Manager information
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Public notices
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Application coordination
Club licence
Support for qualifying clubs supplying alcohol to people permitted under the relevant licensing framework.
COMMON EXAMPLES
Sports clubs
RSAs
Community clubs
Social clubs
WE CAN HELP WITH
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Eligibility discussion
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Club rules and membership information
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Supporting documentation
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Manager information
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Application preparation
02
Renewals & business purchase
Licence renewals
Licence renewal is an opportunity to review whether anything has changed in the business, premises, operating conditions or management since the previous application.
WE CAN HELP REVIEW
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Existing licence
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Expiry date
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Licence conditions
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Current operation
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Manager certificates
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Relevant cost/risk factors
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Supporting documents
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Public-notice requirements
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Renewal application
Temporary authority
Buying a licensed restaurant, bar, bottle store, hotel or other alcohol business requires careful planning. Buying the business does not automatically transfer the existing alcohol licence into the purchaser's name.
Where appropriate, we can help clients understand and prepare for the temporary authority process alongside their new licence application.
Plan the purchase timeline and the licensing timeline together — trading dates usually depend on both.
Temporary authority help
Want to know what your application will involve?
Send us your premises details and we will come back with scope, timing and a fixed quote.
03
Managers & LCQ
New manager’s certificate
We help applicants organise the information required for a manager’s certificate application.
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LCQ information
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Work experience
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Employer details
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Supporting documentation
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Application preparation
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Interview preparation guidance
Certificate renewal
Already hold a manager’s certificate? We can help review what has changed since it was issued.
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Certificate expiry
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Current employment
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Existing certificate
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Supporting documentation
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Renewal requirements
Licence Controller Qualification
The LCQ and a manager’s certificate are related but are not the same thing. We explain the pathway and direct applicants toward recognised LCQ information and providers.
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Pathway explanation
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Requirement guidance
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Recognised provider information
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Documentation for certificate applications
IMPORTANT
The LCQ is a training qualification delivered by recognised providers. A manager's certificate is applied for separately through the relevant council and District Licensing Committee. Liquor Compliance does not issue NZQA qualifications.
04
Events, online sales & changes
Special licences
Support for certain events, functions and special occasions where a special alcohol licence may be required.
CONSIDERATIONS
Event type
Operating hours
Expected attendance
Alcohol service
Food and water
Duty managers
Security
Site plans
Online alcohol sales
Businesses selling alcohol online or through remote-sales channels need to consider the conditions and obligations associated with remote sales.
REVIEW AREAS
Off-licence status
Website information
Age-related processes
Delivery
Advertising
Licence details
Remote-sales procedures
Changes to an existing licence
Material changes to how or where a licensed business operates may require an application to vary the licence.
EXAMPLES
Trading hours
Licensed area
Premises layout
Designated areas
Business operation
Other material changes
05
How we work
Four steps, start to finish
01
Tell us what you’re doing
New business, renewal, business purchase or manager certificate.
02
We review the requirements
We identify what information and documentation may be required.
03
Prepare the application
We help organise the application and supporting information.
04
Follow the process
We help clients understand requests, notices and next steps during the licensing process.
Not sure which service applies to your situation?
Tell us what you're planning and we'll point you to the right pathway.