Gundlapalli [2011] NZLLA 1441 (5 December 2011)

Last Updated: 9 January 2012

[2011] NZLLA 1441

IN THE MATTER of the Sale of Liquor Act 1989

AND

IN THE MATTER of an application by SARAN GUNDLAPALLI pursuant to s.118 of the Act for a General Manager’s Certificate

BEFORE THE LIQUOR LICENSING AUTHORITY

Chairman: District Court Judge J D Hole

Member: Dr J Horn

FINAL DECISION

In decision NZLLA PH 387/2009, following a public hearing at Wellington on 1 April 2009, we adjourned an application by Saran Gundlapalli for a General Manager’s Certificate.

The Police had opposed the application because Mr Gundlapalli had incurred a recent conviction for a liquor related traffic offence. We indicated that we would expect the applicant to undergo our generally accepted expectation of a minimum ‘stand-down’ period to assure ourselves that there would be no repeat offending.

The Police subsequently withdrew their opposition but, in the interim, there was no certainty that the grant of a manager’s certificate was any longer essential given the nature of the applicant’s current employment in licensed premises. Nevertheless he elected to pursue the application which necessitated a resumption of the previously adjourned hearing. Prior to those proceedings the employer advised our Secretary that the issue of the certificate was desirable.

The Police and Agency Inspector had already advised our Secretary that there was no further opposition to the application.

We are satisfied as to the matters to which we must have regard in s.121(1) of the Act and we grant the application. The certificate may issue immediately.

DATED at WELLINGTON this 5TH day of December 2011

M Langworthy
Deputy Secretary

Saran Gundlapalli2.doc(ab)