Debate has erupted in Wānaka at a hearing on a proposed Super Liquor store in Lake Hāwea - with company representatives defending the bottle store and health experts and residents warning of alcohol related harm in the small community.

At the centre of the debate are Keyrouz Holdings Ltd’s plans for a 300sqm+ store in Hāwea’s Longview subdivision, which would operate 12 hours a day, seven days a week.

Its application for a liquor license attracted more than 500 objections and Southern District Health Board medical officer of health Dr Michael Butchard told the District Licensing Committee yesterday (Thursday November 13) that no other license had a greater proportion of the community object to it.

Among objectors’ concerns is the fact Super Liquor would be the first business to open in Longview’s commercial precinct.

“A bottle store before a GP is not the right order,” Michael told the committee.

He said there were many reasons to deny the license, including a known youth drinking culture, likely heavy episodic drinking in the adult population, and geographical isolation of health services.

He referenced the 2023 Upper Clutha Youth Voice Survey, which found 66 percent of local young people had consumed alcohol, with 31 percent reporting binge drinking at least monthly. 

“Each new off-license increases the odds of binge drinking,” he said.

A day earlier the applicant had laid out its case, with Super Liquor Holdings national operations manager Greg Hoar saying the company had the “utmost regard for the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act”.

A liquor licensing hearing for the proposed Hāwea Super Liquor is underway at the Lake Wānaka Centre this week. PHOTO: Wānaka App

Greg said the store would “fit in really well” in the Longview neighbourhood.

Glen Christiansen (the chief executive of Keyrouz owner, Gate Group) implied a bottle store was inevitable - and a Super Liquor was the right operation.

"I do believe that Lake Hāwea will get a bottle store at some point, and that we are the suitable operator due to our great history and strong operational standards…" he said.

John Young, lawyer for the applicant, said many of the objections lodged were “template objections”, arguing they lacked author authenticity and were “likely to carry less weight.” 

Longview resident Lisa Riley, who has spearheaded community opposition to the Super Liquor, pushed back on this when she spoke yesterday.

“With respect, that is wrong,” she said. 

“The community asked Communities Against Alcohol Harm, a national charity, to assist in the use of a digital platform to make it easier for people to understand the law and raise objections."

She said she wanted to highlight the “bigger picture”.

“If this license is granted Lake Hāwea will have 10 licenses for a population of 2,340,” she said.

“That’s three times the density of neighbouring Albert Town and more than double the national average.

“We simply don’t have the infrastructure to absorb more alcohol related incidents.”

She said community opposition was “not about prohibition”.

“It’s about the law doing what Parliament intended, protecting families, children and communities from predictable harm”.

The hearing continues at the Lake Wānaka Centre today (Friday November 14).