Minister of Justice
Pānui Pāpāho
Media Statement
21 August 2019
Bill to allow licensed premises to stay open for Rugby World Cup matches to be introduced
The Minister of Justice will introduce a bill to amend the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act to allow licensed premises to
remain open for Rugby World Cup matches.
“This will allow eligible licensed premises to open during the 2019 Rugby World Cup for the purpose of televising live
games that fall outside of their usual trading hours,” Andrew Little says.
“It’s pretty clear some clubs are having difficulty persuading their district licensing committees to grant a special
licence to extend their hours for this obviously special event, and so it makes sense for Parliament to allow clubs to
meet a community desire.
“I recognise that many premises will not need to rely on these amendments. The timing of the matches in Japan and the
existing licensing framework means many premises will already be covered.
“However, there are some premises, such as clubs in rural areas, who tend to have earlier closing times and we want to
make sure that these communities have the opportunity to enjoy the games.
“I would like to acknowledge and thank David Seymour for his work in drafting a bill on this issue,” says Andrew Little.
ends