Brew-haha in Khandallah over planned pub
Monday, 26 May 2025
Have your say in the comments below
It’s not yet poured its first beer, but would-be craft brew pub has a local residents’ association divided with cries of Nimbyism and overreach ringing out from the leafy streets of Khandallah.
“All I want is a nice beer in a nice pub in my nice neighbourhood,” one person posted on the Khandallah Community Noticeboard Facebook page over the weekend. “How do you dissolve a resident association,” one asked. “I just want to call in for a cold beer and some pizza,” said another.
The people behind the Station Kitchen have number of other venues, including the Waitoa Social Club in Hataitai. Co-owner Tom Baker said the “family friendly” pub would sell craft beer, pizza and other pub food, with a a small number of off-licence sales.
At the root of the turmoil is an application for a liquor licence, filed on February 5 for a tavern by Dough Boys Ltd at 7 Burma Rd, running from 10am to 10pm Sunday to Thursday and to midnight on Friday and Saturday. The location is the now-closed Automat licensed cafe.
But the Onslow Residents’ Community Association (ORCA) put forward eleventh-hour objection on Wednesday “on behalf of the residents of Khandallah and the local community” asking for an extension. It found out about the application in a letter dated May 5.
The location was “highly visible” and near three schools, with children passing daily. Properly managed, the venue could be an “asset to the community”, it said.
A one-month extension was granted by the Wellington District Licensing Committee, which decides liquor licences for the Wellington City Council.
“It was an overreach of them to represent the views of the community when clearly they haven’t canvassed,” said local city councillor Diane Calvert, who felt the extension should not have been granted. She will be discussing with council staff on Monday.
“We are meant to be supporting local businesses. Businesses can’t carry the cost,” Calvert said.
“Bureaucrats have no idea what it takes to run a business let alone fund a business.”
ORCA chairperson David Binning said talk of a Khandallah stoush over the situation was “inflammatory BS”. The association had been approached by some individuals – but no schools – with concerns and his letter was only asking for more time, as insufficient time for feedback had been given.
The association was not taking a position on the new venue and would not make a submission. The organisation had not actively sought feedback from the community, he said.
“It is not our position to go stirring,” he said.
Councillor Ray Chung, who is also on ORCA, said he and another member had urged the association to not ask for an extension, but the letter was sent regardless.
“I said, ‘I don’t think we can submit because we don’t know what people think’.”
Binning said he was unaware of this.
Online comments are moderated during working hours and may not appear immediately.