Police in Auckland say the preferred position of Auckland Council officers to control bar hours are a recipe for harm.
Council officers want on-licence areas to close at 1am in outer areas, but remain open until 4am in central city.
But police say bars should close at 3am at the latest and people should not be allowed into them after 1am.
Inspector Gary Davey says the council plan would act like a funnel into the city centre as people leave bars in outer suburbs.
