5 February 2014
Two extra members for Licensing Committee
Wellington City Council has appointed two additional members to its District Licensing Committees (DLCs).
Murray Clearwater has been appointed as a Commissioner and Luke Tuffs has been appointed as a List Member.
Wellington’s Deputy Mayor, Justin Lester, who chairs the Council’s Governance, Finance and Planning Committee, says the
appointments will further strengthen and broaden the experience of the DLC membership and ensure the committees can
manage a significant workload.
Murray Clearwater has been appointed alongside Commissioners (who chair the committees) Sir Douglas Kidd and Rex
Woodhouse. Deputy Chairs are Wellington City Councillors Andy Foster and Iona Pannett.
Luke Tuffs joins DLC committee members Sir Douglas Kidd, Alick Shaw, Sandra Kirby, Mary Hubble, Kiri Rikihana, Zoe Doole
and Kate Thomson. The DLC committee members are appointed to sit for a term ending 31 October 2018.
Background:
DLCs are quasi-judicial bodies with the powers of a commission of inquiry under the Commissions of Inquiry Act 1908.
Each meeting of a DLC will have three members; a commissioner/chairperson and two other members.
Profiles:
Murray Clearwater
Before his appointment as a Commissioner, Murray was the Environmental Health Team Leader at New Plymouth District
Council. His responsibilities included the registration and monitoring of health and alcohol licensed premises. During
the 12 years Murray spent with the District Council, he led more than 250 cases before the Liquor Licensing Authority
and later the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority (ARLA); writing and presenting submissions on a number of
significant cases.
Murray was on the founding committee and, for the past eight years, President of the New Zealand Institute of Liquor
Licensing Inspectors (NZILLI). The organisation contributed to the development of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act
2012. Prior to joining the New Plymouth District Council, Murray worked as a police officer for 15 years. This included
responsibilities as a licensing sergeant and a prosecutor in the District Court.
Luke Tuffs
Luke ran an alcohol licensing consultancy, Liquid Law Ltd, from 2006 to 2013. Liquid Law specialised in facilitating the
compilation and submission of alcohol licence applications for hospitality and retail sector clients. Prior to his role
with Liquid Law, Luke worked for both Base Backpackers and Nomads World Hotels. Luke has held the Licence Controller’s
Qualification (LCQ) since 2006 and has experience appearing before the Liquor Licensing Authority on behalf of licence
applicants and briefing lawyers engaged to represent Liquid Law's clients' interests.
ENDS