16Consideration of application

16 Consideration of application (1) The Utilities Commission must consider an application for a licence licence. (2) The Utilities Commission must have regard to the general factors specified in section 6(2) of the Utilities Commission Act 2000 and, subject to this section, may only grant a licence if satisfied that: (a) the applicant is a suitable person to hold the licence; and (b) the applicant will be able to meet reasonably foreseeable obligations relating to providing water supply services or sewerage services. (3) In deciding whether an applicant is a suitable person to hold a licence, the Utilities Commission may consider: (a) the applicant's previous commercial and other dealings and the standard of honesty and integrity shown in those dealings; (b) the financial, technical and human resources available to the applicant; (c) the officers and, if applicable, major shareholders of the applicant and their previous commercial and other dealings and the standard of honesty and integrity shown in those dealings (including breaches of statutory and other legal obligations); and (d) other matters prescribed by the Regulations.

Water Supply and Sewerage Services Act 2000 8 (4) If: (a) a person carries on or proposes to carry on operations for which a licence is required as agent of another person; (b) the agent makes application for the licence on the agent's own behalf and on behalf of the principal; and (c) the Utilities Commission is satisfied that the criteria for granting the licence are met in relation to the agent, the Utilities Commission may dispense with the requirement that it be satisfied that the criteria are met in relation to the principal and grant the licence to the agent and the principal to be held by them jointly.