15/10/2025
Announced: We're reviewing red tape affecting hospitality, and we want to hear from you.
Restaurants, bars, cafes, food trucks, hotels – these businesses employ 145,000 people, they bring life to our towns, and they've worked valiantly to bounce back after Covid. But red tape and dumb rules make things harder than they should be.
For example, some business owners might be required to get resource consents on top of alcohol licenses, so that customers can enjoy a cold beer in sun. In other areas of the country just an alcohol license is required.
In a hotel with an alcohol license, a guest can purchase a glass of wine in the bar but they cannot take the glass to their room. It just doesn’t make sense. That same guest can purchase a bottle of wine from the supermarket to drink in their room.
Local councils put disproportionate costs on small food truck owners to operate at events. We heard frustration at extensive council paperwork requirements, inspections, and various fees totalling over $900, for one event.
It should be easy to open a hospo business, employ staff, and serve paying customers. So the Ministry for Regulation is now hearing submissions on what rules to fix.
If your local is affected by dumb rules, I hope you'll make a submission. You can find the link below.
