Snowden, re [2008] NZLLA 1676 (4 December 2008)

Last Updated: 11 February 2010

Decision No. PH 1676/2008

IN THE MATTER of the Sale of Liquor Act 1989

AND

IN THE MATTER of an application by DIANNE GAY SNOWDEN pursuant to s.123 of the Act for renewal of a General Manager's Certificate

BEFORE THE LIQUOR LICENSING AUTHORITY

Chairman: District Court Judge E W Unwin
Member: Mr P M McHaffie

HEARING at TAUMARUNUI on 19 November 2008

APPEARANCES

No appearance by or on behalf of applicant
Mrs L Jones – Ruapehu District Licensing Agency Inspector – in opposition

ORAL DECISION OF THE AUTHORITY

[1] This is an application by Dianne Gay Snowden for the renewal of her General Manager's Certificate.

[2] Mrs Snowden has held her certificate for some time. The certificate fell due for renewal on 7 September 2008. In her application Mrs Snowden gave three addresses. One address was Carroll Street, National Park. Another address was in Queensland, and third address was in Auckland. Mrs Snowden is the holder of the Licence Controller Qualification. There are no substantive objections to the application.

[3] Shortly after filing her application, Mrs Snowden wrote and stated that she was living in Australia, but would be returning to New Zealand. She said that her home was in National Park and that her employment would always be in the tourism industry. She enclosed a certificate that she was working as a manager of a motel in Queensland. She did not state when she would be returning to New Zealand. She was telephoned before the date of hearing. She advised that she worked on a winter/summer basis in Australia and/or New Zealand, and that she would be possibly returning to New Zealand in January 2009.

[4] There is no other information on the file. The District Licensing Agency Inspector has followed our policy in forwarding the file for a public hearing. Our policy is that certificates should be working documents. We believe that unless a person can show regular employment in the hospitality industry, it is unlikely that a renewal will be granted given the importance of regular training, and keeping up to date with current developments in the industry.

[5] In the present circumstances, the application will be granted but the period of renewal will be one year. This means that the certificate will fall due again for renewal in a little under 10 months' time.

[6] Mrs Snowden needs to be aware that it is vital that if she wishes to reapply for the further renewal of the certificate, she must forward with it confirmation of employment in the hospitality industry in New Zealand during the last 10 months. In addition there will need to be confirmation of potential or probable employment for the following three years.

[7] The application is granted on those limited terms.

DATED at WELLINGTON this 4th day of December 2008

B M Holmes
Deputy Secretary

Dianne Snowden.doc(aw)