The battle to get beer flowing again at a historic coastal Wairarapa pub has been stalled by a wall of bureaucratic red tape.
By Emily Ireland of Local Democracy Reporting
Amanda Aitken and Celeste Blakesley, who took over the lease of the Castlepoint Hotel — The Whakataki in March, say they are being endlessly delayed by administrative hurdles in their bid to secure on- and off-licences for the pub.
The pub had been dry since the start of the year, after losing its licences under previous operators due to repeated breaches of alcohol regulations.
In a meeting with Masterton District Council, Aitken, the principal of Tinui School, and Blakesley, a former health board administrator, said they were told their liquor licence application would be dealt with in a "clean slate" manner.
"The council indicated we should not experience any impact due to the previous operators' actions, then immediately asked us what we would do differently than those exact same operators," Aitken said.
"All updated policies and staff training plans were provided to the council immediately upon request. While the council is technically responding within legal timeframes, every response comes at the 11th hour and is always a notification of further delay."
The pair submitted their application with the council, which acts as an administrator for the District Licensing Committee, 16 weeks ago.
Three weeks after submitting the application, it was rejected because it was in “black and white” and the pair were asked to resubmit.
Despite Aitken and Blakesley regularly passing police checks, having hospitality experience, and previously holding liquor-related qualifications, the chief medical officer objected to their suitability.
This objection was later withdrawn and the applicants said the council had not informed them of any other outstanding objections.
Rather than making a decision "on the papers" — a standard procedure when there are no outstanding public objections — the District Licensing Committee (DLC) has demanded a formal hearing.
"The DLC was well aware that our application was forthcoming, yet took the full two weeks to declare conflicts of interest from both the commissioner and deputy — details of which have not been disclosed to us," Aitken said.
A hearing was now being scheduled for August 4, 18 weeks after the application was initially submitted.
A DLC decision can then take several weeks to be released in writing after the hearing is held.
Since taking over the pub’s lease, the new operators have tried to keep the doors open, but without having liquor on the menu, the pair are taking on debt incurred due to lost revenue.
“Not only does this affect us in operating our new business, but it seriously affects our community," Aitken said.
"The pub is an essential community hub for locals to get together, discuss community events, organise help from neighbours and most importantly to socialise.
"We recognise the impact that isolation can have on mental health in a rural community and for some people a meal at the pub is their one opportunity to talk to others during the week."
Local Democracy Reporting asked the council on Tuesday what objections had been received that prompted a hearing being required and what concerns arose that required a hearing.
They council was also given a right of reply on Aitken and Blakesley’s claims regarding the process.
The council did not respond to whether objections had been received and what they were, whether any were outstanding, or whether it disputed any of the applicants’ claims regarding the administrative process.
"The Masterton District Licensing Committee (DLC) is an independent decision-making body separate from the council and operates as a Commission of Inquiry," the council said.
"The council's role is to provide administrative support to the DLC.
"The Commissioner, who is the chair of the DLC, may decide an application 'on the papers' under certain circumstances, but in this case, the Commissioner has decided that, in order to satisfy itself that the applications (for new on- and off-licences) meet the criteria for issuing of licences under section 105 of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act, a hearing of the DLC is necessary.
“The administration of the hearing is being managed as it would be for any application of this type.”
Local Democracy Reporting is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air
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