Starting a café, restaurant or food truck often begins with a big idea – but turning that idea into reality can mean navigating licences, permits and paperwork.
Auckland Council is making that journey easier with Hospo Hub, a free online service that brings everything hospitality operators need into one place.
The new hub offers a single point of contact for guidance on food registration, alcohol licensing, outdoor dining and other council requirements – helping businesses understand what they need to do, and when to do it.
Since launching in March, more than 200 hospitality operators have already used the service, showing strong demand for clearer, more coordinated support.
Parnell is a hotbed of hospitality and local business.
The hub was developed following feedback from the Mayor’s Tourism and Hospitality Forum, where industry representatives highlighted the need to reduce barriers and make it easier to work with council.
Mayor Wayne Brown says the goal is to support local businesses by simplifying council processes.
“Hospo Hub gives hospitality businesses a clear front door. By getting the right advice early, operators can avoid delays and get up and running faster,” he says.
Auckland Council General Manager Licensing and Compliance Rob Irvine says the hub is designed to take the guesswork out of getting started.“Many operators are navigating these requirements for the first time. Hospo Hub provides a straightforward starting point, connecting people with the right information and council specialists,” he says.
The service supports:
- people starting a new hospitality business
- those buying an existing operation
- established businesses making changes