Waitakere

When in Waitakere City, keep in mind that licenses to sell alcohol is controlled by two trusts the Portage and the Waitakere. This means that everyone who sells alcohol must be registered by either one. It is not possible to buy beer or wine in the supermarket unlike the rest of Auckland. The trusts are non-profit organisation that reinvest the taxes on alcohol back into the local communities, schools, parks and sports teams. Although this is obviously less convenient, the local referendum always supports the trusts as they would prefer money going back into the community and not into supermarkets profits lower prices, lower margins, less levied for the community. This does not mean that its more expensive to buy alcohol, but it is more controlled and hours are more restrictive. Another argument made for this is that there is more control over young people buying alcohol and in attempt to reduce under-age drinking.