The operator of Pirongia’s Five Stags Restaurant and Bar has closed the business after it lost its appeal against Waipā District Licencing Committee’s decision not to renew its on-licence.
Pirongia’s Five Stags
The doors have been shut for about two weeks and Nora Fu, sole shareholder of operator Night Pearl Ltd, could not give a date for reopening.
After the failure to get her licence to sell alcohol renewed, she had been operating the restaurant side of the business under reduced hours.
Fu’s appeal to Alcohol Regulatory and Licencing Authority in June failed after it heard the Five Stags continued to serve alcohol on parts of the premises not covered by the licence between hearing dates, the bar served alcohol to an underage drinker during a police-led controlled purchase operation in November 2023, and Fu failed to properly appoint and notify a duty manager.
All of this occurred after the Employment Relations Authority ordered the company to pay more than $21,000 following the unjustified dismissal of an employee.
Pirongia Four Square owner Chris McDonnell was disappointed with the closure as he wants everyone in Pirongia do well.
“Nobody knows what’s going on,” said The Hive owner Shereen Parker.
“All the people I have spoken to just can’t believe that’s happened. It’s such a loss to the community. They just want someone else to take it over and run it.”
Waipā Pirongia-Kakepuku Ward councillor Bruce Thomas was surprised with the closure as Fu had promised to get things right.
“I don’t think the locals are happy with not having a place to go and have a drink. It’s quite disappointing.”
