The planned opening of a Super Liquor store in Matakana has come as unwelcome news to many residents this week. 

The store is set to be located at 1A/44 Matakana Valley Road, in the premises that used to be Summer Sessions.

On April 8th, the following licensing notice appeared in the Rodney Times:

“G1 and Co. Ltd has made an application to the district licensing committee at Auckland for the issue of an Off Licence in respect to the premises situated at 1A/44 Matakana Valley Road. The general nature of the business to be conducted under the licence is a Super Liquor Matakana. The days on which and the hours during which alcohol is intended to be sold under the licence are Monday to Sunday 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.”

A post to the Matakana Community Facebook page gained over 100 comments as residents were quick to voice their displeasure about this potential new addition to the village. 

The consensus seemed to be that Matakana was only a small town, and the already available options to buy liquor were more than enough.

“Horrendous. Gosh, we don't need another liquor store”, said one commentor, whose sentiments were supported by many others. 

There were many comments professing loyalty for locally owned liquor shop, Matakana Liquor: “John and the team at Matakana Liquor are the best, I won't be going anywhere else.”

Some people objected to the new store via Auckland Council. If the District Licensing Committee believes the objection meets the criteria for objection, they will schedule a hearing and notify everyone involved.

Any person who has a 'greater interest' than the general public in an application for an alcohol licence may object to the grant or renewal of that licence. A person with a 'greater interest' may be a resident or business located in the same street as the proposed or existing business applying for an alcohol licence. The new liquor store has posted their public notice in the newspaper this week. Anyone who wishes to oppose it will be able to do so up until April 21, 2021.