Manager's certificates

A manager's certificate allows you to work as a duty manager in a business that sells or supplies alcohol. 

To apply you need to: 

• Be 20 years or older

• Hold current employment in a licensed premises

• Have six months experience in a licensed premises in New Zealand (if you do not have six months experience, your application will be put on hold until you do)

• Have a valid work permit for New Zealand

• Hold a Licence Controller Qualification.

Complete and submit the application forms in full, along with payment and the following supporting materials:

• Current photo identification.

• One reference from your current employer – stating dates of employment and a full description of your duties with reference to your direct involvement in the sale and supply of alcohol. Please note all references must be dated and signed.

• If you do not have six months experience dealing directly with the sale and supply of alcohol in New Zealand, you will need to provide one or more additional references from a previous New Zealand employer (if applicable). If your previous employer was outside New Zealand then you must provide a character reference from someone in New Zealand.

• Copy of your Prescribed Qualification - if you do not have your certificate then you must provide evidence that you have completed the Licence Controller Qualification (LCQ). Your manager's certificate will not be issued until we receive a copy of your LCQ certificate. Do not attach your original certificate.

• Copy of Work Permit (if applicable) – this should be a photocopy of your current visa in your passport.

• Copy of your manager's certificate (only required if you previously held a managers certificate and it has expired, or if you have a certificate issued in another district).

• If you have previously worked in bars in Australia, please include a copy of your RSA certificate.  

When we receive your application, it  will be forwarded to the Police and an alcohol Inspector.

The police  have 15 working days to report on the application and provide it to the District Licensing Committee (DLC).

Following this you'll be contacted to undertake an interview at the Council offices to assess your suitability to be a manager.  

Next we refer all details to the DLC who will consider and determine the application.

When reviewing applications, the following criteria are considered: 

• The applicants suitability to be a manager;

• Any convictions recorded against the applicant;

• Any experience, in particular recent experience, that the applicant has had in controlling any premises for which a licence was in force (in New Zealand);

• Any relevant training (in particular recent training) that the applicant has undertaken;

• Evidence the applicant holds the prescribed qualification;

• Any other matters raised by the police or alcohol inspectors reports.

Where a manager is ill or absent for any reason (e.g. dismissed or resigns) the licensee may appoint a person as a temporary manager who does not hold a manager’s certificate for up to 2 working days.

Note: Only the licensee can do this not a manager.

The appointee must within 2 working days  apply for a manager’s certificate if they wish to continue working as a manager of a licensed premises.

If no application is received, then the appointee must not work as a manager.

If you are appointing a temporary manager for more than 48 hours, you must give notice to the District Licencing  Committee and Police using the 'notice of management change' form. 

You'll find this in the 'Notice of Appointment' section below. 

A licensee may appoint an acting manager:

1. Where a manager is ill or absent, for any period not exceeding 3 weeks at any one time; and

2. To allow a manager to take annual leave for a period not exceeding a total of 6 weeks  in  12 months.

If you are appointing an Acting Manager you must give notice to the District Licencing  Committee and Police using the 'notice of management change' form.  You'll find this in the 'Notice of Appointment' section below. 

Note: Only the licensee can do this not a manager.

If you appoint a new, acting or temporary manager (for more than 48 hours), or if you terminate a manager’s appointment, you have to tell us within 2 working days.

The notice must be completed in full, include all relevant information regarding the appointment, and be signed by the licensee, general manager (or equivalent) and emailed to the Police and District Licensing Committee.  You'll find the email addresses at the bottom of the form below.  

No notice is required for the appointment of a temporary manager for less than 48 consecutive hours.

The District Licensing Committee may within 5 working days of receiving the notice of the appointment of a temporary manager or acting manager, notify the licensee that the appointment is not approved.  The licensee must terminate the appointment within 5 working days of the decision.

A manager's certificate allows you to work as a duty manager in a business that sells or supplies alcohol. 

To apply you need to: 

• Be 20 years or older

• Hold current employment in a licensed premises

• Have six months experience in a licensed premises in New Zealand (if you do not have six months experience, your application will be put on hold until you do)

• Have a valid work permit for New Zealand

• Hold a Licence Controller Qualification.

Complete and submit the application forms in full, along with payment and the following supporting materials:

• Current photo identification.

• One reference from your current employer – stating dates of employment and a full description of your duties with reference to your direct involvement in the sale and supply of alcohol. Please note all references must be dated and signed.

• If you do not have six months experience dealing directly with the sale and supply of alcohol in New Zealand, you will need to provide one or more additional references from a previous New Zealand employer (if applicable). If your previous employer was outside New Zealand then you must provide a character reference from someone in New Zealand.

• Copy of your Prescribed Qualification - if you do not have your certificate then you must provide evidence that you have completed the Licence Controller Qualification (LCQ). Your manager's certificate will not be issued until we receive a copy of your LCQ certificate. Do not attach your original certificate.

• Copy of Work Permit (if applicable) – this should be a photocopy of your current visa in your passport.

• Copy of your manager's certificate (only required if you previously held a managers certificate and it has expired, or if you have a certificate issued in another district).

• If you have previously worked in bars in Australia, please include a copy of your RSA certificate.  

This process takes at least 30 working days.

Note: You may be contacted at any stage if we need more information, or there's opposition to your application.

Acknowledgement – 2 working days

You'll receive an acknowledgement email from the secretary of the District Licensing Committee (DLC) within 2 working days of submitting your application.

The email will tell you if your application has been accepted or rejected, and request any further documents that may be required.

Police assessment – 15 working days

Your application will be considered and reported on by the Police who will inform the Council of any convictions or concerns they have with your application.

Licensing inspector assessment – about 5 working days

An alcohol licensing inspector:

• considers the application and the Police report

• submits a report to the DLC for a decision

If your application is not opposed, the DLC will review your application.

If your application is approved

You'll receive the decision by email.

If your manager's certificate application is approved, you'll receive your certificate by email and you can continue to manage a licensed business.

If there's opposition

If your application is opposed, you'll need to present your case at a hearing.

Your application for a manager's certificate can be opposed by the Police or one of our licensing inspectors. 

If your application for a manager's certificate is opposed, you'll be asked to attend a hearing to discuss the opposition and present your case.    

You can ask  witnesses to speak in support of your application, if you wish. 

After the hearing, the committee may reserve its decision, which means it will meet after the hearing to consider the case and make a decision.   

if you disagree with the decision, you can submit an appeal to the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority within 10 working days.  

Any of the other parties to the hearing can also choose to submit an appeal.   

Go to the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority website 

When you are the manager on duty you are responsible for making sure that the premises follows the conditions of its licence and the requirements of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012.

Read the conditions on the licence and make sure that you follow them.

Key rules to follow under the Act:

• Only sell alcohol to people who are 18 or older

• Don’t let people get intoxicated

• Don’t sell alcohol to people who are intoxicated

• Don’t let people who are intoxicated on the premises

• Only sell alcohol to people during your licensed hours

• Don’t drink or let staff drink while on duty

• Don’t serve spirits in vessels bigger than 500ml

• Don’t allow disorderly conduct on the premises

• Don’t let minors into restricted (R18) areas, or into supervised areas unless they are with a parent or legal guardian

• Promote alcohol responsibly

Police and Licensing Inspectors can inspect your premises. If you’re not doing what your licence or the law says, they can take action against you personally.

Your manager’s certificate could be suspended or cancelled and you could get a fine.

If your employer appoints a new, acting or temporary manager, or if they terminate a manager’s appointment, they have to tell us within 2 working days. You may be asked to do this. You should log this appointment in your manager’s register.

If you have changed jobs and your manager’s certificate needs to be renewed, you need to apply to the Council that covers the area where you are working.

You need to tell us if you change your address. You also need to let us know if your right to work in New Zealand changes – for example, if you get a new visa or if your visa is withdrawn.

If you are the manager on duty, you must make sure that your name is displayed on a sign at the principal entrance to the premises. If you don’t do this, you could be fined.

A licensee must keep records of all managers appointed in the licensed premises as follows:

• The manager's full legal name, date of birth and gender:

•  The number and expiry date of the manager's certificate:

•  The date  the manager was appointed manager for the premises or conveyance

•  The date that appointment was terminated:

• The date the District Licensing Committee were notified of the appointment, cancellation of termination of a manager

• The date the Queenstown Police were notified of the appointment, cancellation of termination of a manager

These records need to be kept for a minimum of 2 years.

A licensee must keep records of all temporary managers appointed in the licensed premises as follows:

1. The temporary manager's full legal name, date of birth, and gender

2.  The date the temporary manager applied for a manager's certificate:

3.  Each day on which the temporary manager was appointed temporary manager for the premises or conveyance:

4.  In respect of each day on which the temporary manager was appointed temporary manager for the premises or conveyance, the day on which the temporary manager's appointment ceased:

5.  In respect of each day on which the temporary manager was appointed temporary manager for the premises or conveyance,—

   1. a brief statement of the reason for the temporary manager's appointment; and

   2.  if it was because of the dismissal or resignation of a manager, the full legal name of the manager:

6. The date the District Licensing Committee were notified of the appointment, cancellation of termination of a manager

7. The date the Queenstown Police were notified of the appointment, cancellation of termination of a manager

A licensee must keep records of all acting managers appointed in the licensed premises as follows:

1. The acting manager's full legal name, date of birth, and sex:

2.  If the acting manager holds a manager's certificate, its number and day of expiry:

3.  Each day on which the acting manager was appointed acting manager for the premises or conveyance:

4.  In respect of each day on which the acting manager was appointed acting manager for the premises or conveyance, the day on which the acting manager's appointment ceased:

5.  In respect of each day on which the acting manager was appointed acting manager for the premises or conveyance,—

   1.  the full legal name of the manager whose place the acting manager was appointed to act in; and

   2. a brief statement of the reason for the manager's absence:

6. The date the District Licensing Committee were notified of the appointment, cancellation of termination of a manager.

7. The date the Queenstown Police were notified of the appointment, cancellation of termination of a manager.