FAQ
Health Licences | Food Premises | Mobile Shops/Stalls | Hairdressing | Camping Grounds
Often there's a simple answer or explanation for something you're wondering about. Here are some of the questions that many of our customers ask with the type of answer that we usually give.
If you need more detail, or if the question you want to ask isn't covered, then simply email us and we'll get back to you within two working days.
1. What types of premises need a Health Registration?
2. I am starting up a new business (food premises, hairdressers, camping ground, funeral directors). How much is the registration application fee?
3. I am thinking of buying a registered premises. What do I need to do?
4. I have sold my premises. Can I claim back the remaining portion of the annual licensing fee I paid to the Council?
5. Who is responsible for transferring a Registration of Premises?
6. How much does it cost to transfer a health license?
7. I have paid for my Health Licence registration renewal - when can I expect the certificate in the post?
8. What is the registration period of a Health Registration?
9. The details on my Certificate of Registration/Health Licence are incorrect, how do I have them altered?
10. What is required in order to sell food from a mobile cart or caravan on the street?
1. I am thinking of starting a food business. What do I need to do?
2. Can I prepare food for sale in my domestic kitchen?
3. Where can I get a copy of the Food Hygiene Regulations 1974 and the Food Hygiene Bylaw?
4. Do food premises have to display Food Licenses in public view?
5. How do I make a complaint about a food premises?
6. I became ill after eating a meal at a local restaurant/takeaway. Who do I contact?
7. I found an object in my food. Who do I contact?
8. Are cats or dogs allowed in food premises?
1. I want to sell food as a fundraising venture. Do I need a licence or have to meet any special requirements?
2. I want to sell food at a special event (eg the Medieval Market, Foxton Spring Fling). How do I go about it?
3. I want to sell food from a mobile shop. Where can I operate?
1. I am thinking of starting a hairdressing business. What do I need to do?
2. Do I need to make an application for a Health Registration?
3. Do I need to transfer a Health Registration when I purchase a new business?
4. I am thinking of starting a beauty therapy business. What do I need to do?
1. I am thinking of opening a camping ground. Do I need to make an application for a Health Registration?
2. Do I need to transfer a Health Registration when I purchase a new business?
3. What is the annual registration fee for camping grounds?
4. Where can I get a copy of the camping ground regulations?
Health Licences - General Information
1. What types of premises need a Health Registration?
All premises, where the following functions are carried out:
- All food premises: Manufacturing, preparing, packing, storing or selling food or food products.
- All clubs with a liquor license or who sell food to the general public.
- Hairdressing
- Camping Grounds
- Funeral Directors
- Mobile Shops.
2. I am starting up a new business (food premises, hairdressers, camping ground, funeral directors). How much is the registration application fee?
This depends on the type of premises you are operating. Please refer to Fees & Charges for more information.
3. I am thinking of buying a registered premises. What do I need to do?
You should arrange the purchase through your solicitor with an application for a LIM (Land Information Memoranda) and also arrange for the Council's Environmental Health Officer to carry out a check of the premises. Council held information to check includes:
- That the registration is current and the fee has been paid
- The registration fee amount
- If there are any requisitions, requirements or conditions related to the business or the property
- The cost of the transfer fee.
4. I have sold my premises. Can I claim back the remaining portion of the annual licensing fee I paid to the Council?
No, unfortunately Council does not refund portions of annual registration fees as this has covered the previous inspection and administration costs. It is usual, however, for the vendor's solicitor to claim back the remaining portion from the purchaser.
5. Who is responsible for transferring a Registration of Premises?
The purchaser is responsible for transferring the registration and paying the transfer fee within 14 days of taking over the premises. Visit Application Forms for PDF versions of all Environmental Health application forms.
6. How much does it cost to transfer a health license?
The fee to change the details on the existing license and in our computer system is $85.00.
7. I have paid for my Health Licence registration renewal - when I can expect the certificate in the post?
Once an application and payment have been received and all the requirements have been complied with, processing will begin and you should receive your certificate within 2 - 3 weeks. If you need to follow-up on this, please contact our Environmental Health Officer.
8. What is the registration period of a Health Registration?
The licensing period runs from the 1st of July of each year to the 30th of June.
9. The details on my Certificate of Registration/Health Licence are incorrect, how do I have them altered?
Please place any changes in writing, sign and date. It then can be either:
- delivered to 126 Oxford Street, Levin or one of our service centers in Tokomaru, Shannon and Foxton;
- mailed to the Environmental Health Officer, Horowhenua District Council, Private Bag 4002, Levin 5510; or
- faxed to Environmental Health Officer, Horowhenua District Council on (06) 366 0984.
10 . What is required in order to sell food from a mobile cart or caravan on the street?
See our Hawkers Buskers and Mobile Shop Pamphlet (PDF, 280 KB) for further details.
The annual fee for a mobile shop licence is $165.00. This is not payable at the time of applying but when you are advised of the granting of the application.
Definition: A mobile shop may not remain on any site for a period exceeding 30 minutes.
If wanting to remain stationary on a site for longer periods then approval from the Horowhenua District Council is required.
Food Premises
1. I am thinking of starting a food business. What do I need to do?
Refer to our Guidelines for Opening Food Premises Booklet (PDF, 344 KB), or call our Environmental Health Officer.
2. Can I prepare food for sale in my domestic kitchen?
Generally no. Food for sale can only be prepared on premises registered as Food Premises by the Council under the Food Hygiene Regulations 1974. These regulations provide that the premises must be used exclusively for the purpose of preparing food. A domestic kitchen does not meet this requirement as it can be used for other domestic purposes. It may however be possible to have a Food Safety Programme (FSP) approved by the New Zealand Food Safety Authority. Premises with an approved Food Safety Programme are exempt from the requirement to be registered under the Food Hygiene Regulations.
For further information on FSP’s click onto NZSFA's What Does a Food Safety Programme Look Like?
Refer to the Guidelines for Opening Food Premises Booklet (PDF, 344 KB) or call our Environmental Health Officer.
3. Where can I get a copy of the Food Hygiene Regulations 1974 and the Food Hygiene Bylaw?
Click on the following links:
4. Do food premises have to display Food Licenses in public view?
Yes, the Health (Registration of Premises) Regulations outline that every food license shall be posted conspicuously in a public part of the premises to which it relates. If it is not displayed then members of the public are entitled to ask to see it.
Horowhenua District Council has it’s own grading bylaw with the following grades: - A - B - Ungraded - New businesses do not have a grade for the first licensing period they open.
*Please note that the premises were graded on what was found on the day of inspection.
If you have concerns regarding a premises hygiene and food safety, please contact our Environmental Health Officer.
5. How do I make a complaint about a food premise?
If it is in relation to the condition/cleanliness of food premises, please contact our Environmental Health Officer on (06) 366 0999. If it is in relation to the quality of food, a foreign object in the food, or illness caused by eating the food, contact the Health Protection Team at MidCentral Health on (06) 350 9110.
6. I became ill after eating a meal at a local restaurant/takeaway. Who do I contact?
If you have been ill, please contact the on-call Health Protection Officer at MidCentral Health on (06) 350 9110. Below is a link to information on the different types of food poisoning and frequently asked questions:
Foodborne illnesses - what they are and how to avoid them.
7. I found an object in my food, who do I contact?
If you have a complaint regarding food you have purchased, please contact the on-call Health Protection Officer at MidCentral Health on (06) 350 9110. If you still have the food in question, please place into a sealed container and store in the freezer. Let the health protection officer know that you have the food.
8. Are cats or dogs allowed in food premises?
No they are not, unless the dogs are disability assist dogs i.e guide, hearing ear or companion dogs (registered with the NZ Companion Trust). Cats may be permitted under certain circumstances.
Mobile Shops/Stalls
1. I want to sell food as a fundraising venture, do I need a licence or have to meet any special requirements.
No health registration is required as such events are classed as Occasional Food Premises that are not to occur more than four times a year, however basic food handling and safety practices must be followed.
*NB There are unfortunately a number of people who undertake sausage sizzles on a regular basis under the guise of different people managing the event, or under the same people using a different fundraiser. This is tightening the requirements for everyone and should NOT be done. If you wish to do a BBQ commercially then a registered mobile shop will be required. Refer to the Sausage Sizzles and BBQs (PDF, 103 KB) pamphlet.
2. I want to sell food at a special event like the Medieval Market and Foxton Spring Fling, how do I go about it?
Most of Horowhenua’s major events are through independent organisations and so you will have to contact the event co-ordinators to hire a site.
The Horowhenua District Council does however want to see that the event is a success and therefore takes a major interest in the food hygiene practices of all food stall holders. Visit Application Forms to access the application you will need to complete and send back to the Council’s Environmental Health Officer – ideally one week before the event. This allows time for any problems to be rectified. Please read all the information carefully before completing the application.
3. I want to sell food from mobile shop, where can I operate?
You are able to operate from any site on private land as long as you meet the following:
1. District Plan requirements. (This may require resource consent and so talking to a planner is a must). Phone (06) 366 0999. 2. You are not situated less than 100m away from a business selling like products.
3. You have a current Mobile shop license with this Council.
To operate on the State Highway Road Reserve you must meet the following:
1. Gain Transit New Zealand’s permission (phone (06) 349 6520).
2. If your preferred site is also within a 50k zone you will need to talk with Council’s Roading Manager.
3. You are not situated less than 100m away from a business selling like products.
4. You have a current Mobile Shop license with this council.
To operate on public land you must meet the following:
1. Contact the Council's Property and Parks Officers for site availability and any conditions or requirements they may have.
2. District Plan requirements. (This may require resource consent and so talking to a planner is a must). Phone (06) 366 0999. 3. You are not situated less than 100m away from a business selling like products.
4. You have a current Mobile shop license with this Council.
Hairdressing
1. I am thinking of starting a hairdressing business, what do I need to do?
The premises must comply with various regulations and requirements. You can print off a copy of the Health (Hairdressers) Regulations (PDF, 244 KB) requirements for registrations. These outline the minimum standards you are required to meet before you can be registered.
It is advisable that you speak with a Council Planning Officer to make sure that the location of your proposed premises is a permitted activity under the district plan. A building inspector will be able to advise if you will need a building consent for renovations and /or plumbing.
2. Do I need to make an application for a Health Registration?
The Health (Registration of Premises) Regulations state that all new premises occupiers must be registered. You will therefore need to complete an Application Form and submit it along with the appropriate fee. However there are some exceptions and so it is advised to contact our Environmental Health Officer.
3. Do I need to transfer a Health Registration when I purchase a new business?
All new premises occupiers must complete a Transfer form (PDF, 28 KB) and submit it along with the appropriate fee within 14 days of occupation.
4. I am thinking of starting a beauty therapy business, what do I need to do?
Beauty therapy businesses do not require health registration by the Council if there is no hairdressing associated with the business. We do have guidelines of minimal standards which can be printed from the link below.
It is also advisable that you speak with a planning officer and building inspector.
Guidelines for Establishing Beauty Therapy Businesses (PDF, 29 KB)
Camping Grounds
1. I am thinking of opening a camping ground do I need to make an application for a Health Registration?
Yes if Health Registration is necessary. Under the Health (Registration of Premises) Regulations all new premises occupiers must complete an Application Form (PDF, 34 KB) and submit it along with the appropriate fee. Registration will only be granted if the camping ground meets the requirements of the District Plan, Building Act and Camping Ground Regulations.
2. Do I need to transfer a Health Registration when I purchase a new business?
All new premises occupiers must complete a Transfer form and submit it along with the appropriate fee within 14 days of occupation.
3. Where can I get a copy of the camping ground regulations?
These are available by clicking on Camping Ground Regulations 1985 (PDF, 26 KB).
4. What is the annual registration fee for camping grounds?
Please visit our Fees & Charges.