New Year’s Eve Special Licences: What Are Clubs Experiencing?

With New Year’s Eve falling on a Thursday this year, we expect a number of clubs will be looking to extend their usual licensed hours so that members can see in 2027 together.

For many clubs, that means applying for a special licence.

With the 20-working-day application period fast approaching, we expect many clubs will be well underway with your special licence applications, however, we have recently heard from one member club whose application for a special licence has been declined, with the council taking the position that New Year’s Eve itself is not considered an "event" for the purposes of granting a special licence.

We know from previous years that some councils have issued specific guidance to licensees around New Year’s Eve special licence applications. What concerns us is the potential for clubs in different parts of the country to encounter different approaches to essentially the same situation.

We would like to hear from you

If your club has applied, or is currently applying, for a New Year’s Eve special licence, we would be interested to know what response you have received from your local council.

In particular, let us know if:

• your application has been accepted or approved
• you have been advised that New Year’s Eve does not constitute an event
• you have been asked to provide additional information about the nature of the event or entertainment being provided
• your council has issued specific guidance about New Year’s Eve applications.

Understanding what is happening around the country will help us identify whether this is an isolated interpretation or another example of the inconsistency clubs can experience across different licensing authorities.

If your club has encountered this issue, please get in touch with the Clubs New Zealand team and let us know what you have been told.