Liquor licensing Sergeant Keith Newell, of Queenstown, appealed against the decision by the council's licensing agency to grant the Shotover St venue a special licence with conditions after a hearing in April.
Sgt Newell said Revolver's music festival occurred without major incident, but he sought clarification of what constituted a special event from the Liquor Licensing Authority panel of Judge Edward Unwin, Judith Moorhead and Dr Jacqueline Horn.
Sgt Newell said case law had set up guidelines for legitimate special events, but there was national confusion over Easter licensing.
Remedying the law, rather than treating it without respect, was required.
Sgt Newell said it was the view of the police that Revolver's music festival was not a special event and was "simply business as usual".
"I don't have any problems with the way it was run . . . Parliament has said those days are sacrosanct and the premises was allowed to trade [as normal]," he said.
Police received five special licence applications from Queenstown establishments for the Easter weekend, he said.
Revolver owner-operator John Stapleton said each festival night had a different music theme and four of the bands were from out of town.
To get 20 musicians in one venue required planning and considerable investment, he said.
The long weekend suited bands and customers alike.
Three acts had previously performed individually at the venue but the six bands had not performed together in one event at Revolver.
In response to questions, Mr Stapleton said two of the bands, each with a support act, had approached Revolver two months before the event and it became a good opportunity to present quality entertainment in Queenstown, he said.
Mr Stapleton said the festival was consistent with what Revolver did as a live venue and it was not guilty of manufacturing an event to get around trading laws.
Judge Unwin said he accepted the event name, the number of bands and the provision of free food on the Easter weekend nights were different, but sought clarification on why trading was out of the ordinary for the venue.
He was conscious of setting a precedent.
Judge Unwin reserved the decision which would be issued within 30 days.
