Source: Porirua City Council
Updated rules on keeping animals and the sale and supply of alcohol in Porirua will be coming into force.
The Keeping of Animals Bylaw 2025 and Local Alcohol Policy (LAP) 2025 have been recently officially ratified by Mayor Anita Baker and Porirua City councillors, following on from consultation (December 2024 to this March) and deliberations and hearings in May.
The updated LAP aims to reduce alcohol-related harm in our city, particularly in some of Porirua’s most vulnerable communities, while balancing growth in the city and the hospitality industry’s needs. After input from the public, health officials, licensing inspectors and police, the policy will manage where and when alcohol can be sold and promotes responsible drinking. New LAP rules include:
- off-licence premises like bottle stores, grocery stores and supermarkets can only sell alcohol between 9am-9pm
- no new off-licences are allowed in vulnerable areas without very good reason (Porirua East, Titahi Bay, Elsdon, Takapūwāhia, Kenepuru and the city’s CBD)
- all licences within 100 metres of a sensitive site, such as schools and drug/alcohol treatment centres, will need to do an impact assessment for a new licence or an application to renew.
The LAP comes into effect on 18 July, except changes to the off-licence hours, which will take effect on 5 January, 2026.
The Keeping of Animals Bylaw 2025, meanwhile, has updated rules to help prevent mess, noise and nuisance by domestic animals in Porirua.
It includes new rules for cats (requiring owners to desex, microchip and register their feline), stock, and poultry, as well as new rules for beekeepers.
Dogs are already governed by the Dog Control Bylaw.
