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There was a lot of disappointment expressed on social media when this Ōrewa restaurant, Mr Taco, closed at the end of last month because it was unable to get an alcohol licence.
Owner Manuel Moreno Gonzalez had been trying to get a licence for around six months. He says he is sad to have had to close Mr Taco, but he is still hoping the licence issue can be resolved so that he can open again, elsewhere in Ōrewa. He owns another Mexican restaurant in the Auckland CBD.
There was much speculation on social media as to why an alcohol licence was not granted to Mr Taco. Auckland Council received the company’s liquor licence application April 21 and it was withdrawn on October 28, following opposition from the Police.
There were no objections to the licence from members of the public and Council had not issued its decision, as the application had not gone before the District Licensing Committee for determination before it was withdrawn. Police confirm they opposed the application but would make no further comment regarding why.
Gonzalez told the paper last week that he has not given up on getting the licence, and wants to come back and start up again in a different Ōrewa location.
“I like the people there, and they like my food,” he says.
He says he is working through issues with the Police and hopes to have progress by Christmas.
Another Mexican restaurant is hoping to open on the former Mr Taco site in Tamariki Ave – Gonzalez says the new owners are friends of his from Mexico. They applied for a liquor licence on October 19 and Council is currently processing this.
Meanwhile, the Government plans to change the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 with the aim of making it easier for communities to set their own rules around the sale of alcohol in their area.
The current laws allow liquor stores and supermarkets to block councils from limiting the sale of alcohol. A Bill proposing changes to the alcohol licensing process will be introduced this year, with the aim of passing it into law by the middle of next year.
