Medical officer fights Northland liquor store

Northland medical officer of health Clair Mills. Photo / John Stone

A top Northland health professional has appealed to the High Court in an effort to stop a fourth off-licence opening in a Whangarei suburb.

But the owner of the proposed bottle store says it is unfair they are being used as a "guinea pig" to determine case law.

Northland medical officer of health Clair Mills said the appeal against the proposed Onerahi Liquor Centre was lodged on July 10.

It was likely to cost $25,000 in legal fees to fight, with the money coming from Northland District Health Board's public health funding.

"There are a number of legal points that are useful to get some further judgments on," Dr Mills said.

If appealing did stop the store and prevented one or two serious crashes then it would be worth it, Dr Mills said.

Edward Jones, owner of the proposed store, said it was frustrating it was appealed again.

"It's just part of the process," he said. "We always knew it was a possibility."

They had planned to open at the end of the month, but that may be put off for six months.

An appeal date had not been set.