A Local Alcohol Policy sets the local rules for selling alcohol. It determines things like how late bars can stay open for business, where new bottle stores can be established, and how many of them we have in an area.

There are two main reasons for these rules. First, the law requires councils to help reduce alcohol-related harm.

Second, our community is growing and changing, so our rules about alcohol need to keep up. Council's goal is to allow adults to buy alcohol responsibly while making sure our neighbourhoods stay safe and pleasant for everyone.

This policy is our community's official guide for making decisions about alcohol licenses. When a store or bar applies for a license, Council uses these rules to decide whether to approve it. This helps reduce alcohol-related harm in our neighbourhoods and encourages everyone to drink responsibly. In short, it's a tool to help manage the impact of alcohol and make Central Hawke's Bay a better place to live.

We need your input as we review the current rules. Please tell us what you think about:

• Reducing opening hours: we are proposing to reduce the hours for buying alcohol from shops. We would like your views on the four proposed options:
  • Option 1: Status Quo, no change, 7 am - 11 pm
  • Option 2: Strengthened Local Alcohol Policy, 7 am - 9 pm
  • Option 3: Regional Alignment, 9 am - 9 pm
  • Option 4: Removal of the Local Alcohol Policy.
• Limiting number of bottle stores: we are looking at the rules that control how many bottle stores can be in Waipawa. Do you think the current rules are right, or do they need to be tighter?
• Your perspective on alocohol-related harm: what is your perception of alcohol-related harm in Central Hawke's Bay? We want to understand your experiences and concerns to help shape a policy that addresses real community issues.

The public consultation runs from Monday, 1 December 2025 to Monday, 23 February 2026. Once consultation has closed, all feedback will be collated and presented to the Council for consideration at a Council meeting, date TBC

You will have the opportunity to speak in support of your submission at this Council meeting.

We've provided a number of ways for people to have their say on the draft Local Alcohol Policy.

Ways to submit:

• Online: fill out the online submission form here.
• Email: send your feedback to customerservice@chbdc.govt.nz
• In person: drop it off at the Council's Waipawa office, Waipawa Library, Te Huinga Wai - the Knowledge and Learning Hub.

If you need assistance or would like a full copy of the document, please visit our Waipawa office, Waipawa Library, Te Huinga Wai - the Knowledge and Learning Hub, where our friendly teams are ready to help.

Make sure to have your say by Monday, 23 February. You can also request to present your views in person at a Council meeting (date tbc).