Auckland city passes on liquor policy decisions

The new Super City council will have to deal with Auckland's liquor licensing issue after Auckland City Council decided to pass it on.

The council's city development committee voted last week to delay making any policies regarding liquor licensing, including preventing liquor stores from opening around schools.

Committee chairman Aaron Bhatnagar said the move was an acknowledgment of the soon-to-be established Auckland council.

"This is about accommodating the imminent change to Auckland's governance, with the immediate need to take a clearer, more responsible and collaborative approach to licensing the sale of alcohol across the city," he said.

But others are criticising the move.

Councillor Glenda Fryer says the committee's decision is "not good enough" because of the amount of time it it will take before new liquor policies can be passed by the Super City council.