Horowhenua District Council is inviting the community to have its say on the proposed Local Alcohol Policy (LAP) 2026.
The Local Alcohol Policy helps guide decisions about alcohol licensing across the district. This includes trading hours, one-way-door restrictions, the location of licensed premises, and licence conditions.
Council is required by law to review its Local Alcohol Policy at least every six years. Following this review, Council is proposing to largely keep the current approach, while making the policy easier to understand and updating it to reflect how alcohol is sold today.
The proposed changes relate to:
- Location-related exceptions: Clarifying the circumstances in which exceptions to the existing 100-metre restrictions around sensitive locations may be considered, including for existing and previously licensed premises.
- Remote alcohol sales and deliveries: Introducing proposed measures relating to Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) payment options in bottle stores and mandatory age checks when alcohol is purchased and delivered.
Mayor Bernie Wanden says the review is an opportunity to check whether the current approach remains right for Horowhenua.
“Overall, we’re proposing to keep the approach we already have in place, while making some updates to reflect changing purchasing habits and provide clearer guidance for licensing decisions.”
“These are proposed changes, not final decisions. We want to hear from our community, businesses and licence holders about whether this approach is right for Horowhenua before any decisions are made.”
Council is seeking feedback on:
- Whether the proposed approach is appropriate for Horowhenua.
- Whether the draft policy provisions are clear and workable.
- Whether Council should consider any further changes.
The draft policy also removes an expired bottle-store cap and references to the first review of the policy that no longer apply.
The current Local Alcohol Policy will remain in effect while the review is completed. Consultation closes at 4pm on 4 December 2026.
Anyone who lives, works, owns a business, or has an interest in Horowhenua is encouraged to have their say. People making a submission can also choose to speak to their submission at a hearing.
To learn more, read the draft policy, or make a submission, visit Let’s Kōrero Horowhenua