Manager's Certificate
When liquor is being sold or supplied to the public on licensed premises, a certificate-holding duty manager must be on duty at all times and be responsible for compliance with the Sale of Liquor Act 1989 and the conditions of the licence.
The manager's certificate is portable so you can carry out the duties and responsibilities of a manager in other premises.
Prior to 18 December 2013 there were two types of manager's certificates:
- General Manager's certificate: authorises you to manage any licensed premise where an on licence, off licence, club licence or special licence is in force. Requires you to hold the Licence Controller Qualification (LCQ).
- Club manager's certificate: limits you to managing premises that hold a club licence or where a special licence is in force. You are not required to hold the Licence Controller Qualification, however, you are required to complete the syllabus. Please note, if you work on a club premises you are only entitled to hold a club managers certificate. If you wish to hold a general managers certificate you must have experience of working on a licensed premises that hold a full on or off licence.
The new Act recognises one class of Manager for all premises however it allows a transitional period for club managers to sit an equivalence test to allow them to become Managers under the new Act.
Apply for a new manager's certificate
The process for applying for a manager's certificate has changed substantially under the new Act and several areas of requirement remain undetermined at this point. For further advice please contact the Licensing Inspector.
Renew your manager's certificate
The process for applying for renewal of a manager's certificate has changed substantially under the new Act and several areas of requirement remain undetermined at this point. For further advice please contact the Licensing Inspector.
Get a copy of your manager's certificate
We can provide a copy of your manager's certificate to you on request for a small fee.
Training in the Sale of Liquor Act
There a number of training providers that provide sale of liquor training in the Hawke's Bay region. The following list is not exhaustive and you may wish to search for Sale of Liquor training providers on the Web or in the Yellow pages.
View Hawke's Bay Training Providers
Appointing Acting and Temporary managers
In certain circumstances you are allowed to appoint an uncertified person as an Acting or Temporary manager if a holder of a manager's certificate is not available.
Acting manager
A licensee can appoint someone without a manager's certificate as an Acting manager for up to three weeks at any one time. The total period of time for an Acting manager cannot exceed a total of six weeks in any 12-month period.
Temporary manager
A Temporary manager can be appointed if the usual duty manager is ill or absent for any reason or is dismissed or resigns. This person does not have to have a manager's certificate, however this person must, within two working days, apply for a manager's certificate. They may then continue as a Temporary manager until the application for a manager's certificate is determined.
When to appoint an Acting manager or Temporary manager
The position of Acting manager is usually a short-term appointment while a Temporary manager is likely to be a longer-term replacement for a permanent staff member. Generally, the provisions allow for the appointment of an Acting manager where the holder of a manager's certificate is ill, absent or on holiday, but where the absence is more of a short-term nature. A Temporary manager would be more appropriate when the usual or permanent manager suddenly leaves or is ill or absent for a significant period of time.
If a licensee appoints a person as an Acting or Temporary manager that person is deemed to have the responsibilities of the holder of a manager's Certificate. An Acting or Temporary manager can be prosecuted for breaches of the Act just as a manager's certificate holder can.
Notify us of changes to managers
You are legally required to give notice of the appointment, or termination of the appointment, of any manager, Temporary manager, or Acting manager
Notice must be given within 48 hours of appointment or termination.
It is not necessary to notify these agencies if the appointment will not exceed 48 hours, however it is recommended that such a appointments are recorded in a daybook, or log book, along with the reason for the appointment.
To give notice:
District Licensing Agency (DLA)
+64 6 835 7574
Liquor Licensing Authority (LLA)
+64 4 462 6686
Police
+64 6 834 0340
NOTE: Application forms for Managers Certificates will be appended as soon as possible after 18 December 2013. In the interim please contact the Licensing Inspector.
