Wellington council backs change to public holiday alcohol rules

Thursday, 8 May 2025

Kiwis could soon be able to buy alcohol on public holidays with no strings attached.

Going out for a drink on public holidays can be tricky, with Kiwis needing to order a full meal with their beverage of choice or stay on the premises.

But that rule could soon change, with the Wellington City Council voting to support a central government rule change that revokes restrictions on patrons buying alcohol from on licence and off-licence stores on Easter Friday, Easter Sunday, Christmas Day and before 1pm on Anzac Day.

The law, which comes from the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012, bans off-licence liquor stores from selling alcohol at all except for wine on Easter Sunday.

The legislation has passed its first reading with the support of a majority of MPs, with improved clarity around trading rules the driver behind the change.

The move was largely support by council too, with only two elected members voting against: deputy mayor Laurie Foon, who was against opening off-licence stores and pouiwi Liz Kelly, who questioned why people would want to drink before 1pm, and said Good Friday, Christmas and Easter is about the saviour, and Anzac Day is to recognise those who lost their lives.

Iona Pannett voted in favour for consistency with the rest of the country but said she was uncomfortable with how liberal New Zealand was with drinking. “I sort of see the merit in just having some time where consumption is not allowed.”

Sarah Free said the submission’s difference was small but made it less confusing. “It tidies it all up, it makes it simpler.”

Duncan Gillespie, co-owner of The Tasting Room is in favour of the move to revoke public holiday trading laws.

Tasting Room co-owner Duncan Gillespie said he welcomed the move for the sake of his staff.

“People can get really fired up about it, which is really not fair on poor old hospo staff.”

He said the laws were not well publicised and caused confusion among customers who had seen the law play out differently at different establishments.

“Removing [the law] or making it clearer, would actually be a help to just alleviate that angst.”

While he saw a “massive spike” in food orders during Anzac Day and Easter, he said his restaurant bar was equipped to handle it.

Gillespie has had previous experience working in a bottle shop, and believed the law only encouraged people to buy extra alcohol to accommodate, which caused more harm.

Despite the law change, he said the business would still stay closed on Christmas Day.