The businessman behind Onerahi's proposed fourth off-licence believes another bottle store will not have an impact on the amount of alcohol-related harm in the area.
However, those opposed to the application for the proposed store strongly rejected the claim.
Whangarei District Licensing Committee held a public hearing at Toll Stadium yesterday, which is scheduled to run into today, to determine if applicant Edward Jones would be allowed to open the proposed Liquor Centre in the Onerahi shopping centre.
The council received 570 written objections to the application, though only 362 were considered valid. Nineteen objectors were expected to speak at the public hearing.
Mr Jones yesterday argued if his application went ahead it did not mean there would be more alcohol in Onerahi and he did not believe the store would increase the rate of alcohol-related harm in the area.
"We feel there's an opportunity to take sales off the other retailers," he said. In Onerahi, there are three off-licences, at Super Liquor, New World and the Onerahi Tavern.
He rejected suggestions that another liquor store would create a price war. "That couldn't be further from the truth as it doesn't benefit anyone, especially the stores," Mr Jones said.
District licensing inspector Reiner Mussle, who did not oppose the licence, said Onerahi had the least number of off-licences in the area in comparison to population.
"Purely based upon the evidence before me there is not as much concern as people would like to think," Mr Mussle said.
Northland's medical officer of health Clair Mills and Constable Aaron Furze of the Onerahi Community Police both addressed the committee and argued another store would increase alcohol-related harm in Onerahi.
"It is not credible to argue that an additional off-licence premises will be able to safely and responsibly sell additional alcohol ... without causing additional harm," Ms Mills said.
The final decision would be made in the days following the public hearing by the committee, though any party that took part in the hearing may appeal the decision.