Government amends Easter trading laws

The government has passed the baton to local councils to decide whether retailers can open on Easter Sunday.

Workplace Relations Minister Michael Woodhouse says the proposed law change will enable communities to choose whether to allow trading on the religious holiday.

“It will mean regions, especially tourist areas, can respond where there is strong demand for Easter Sunday trading,” he says.

In addition to these changes, workers will be given the opportunity to decline or accept work on that day without needing to provide a reason.

“This acknowledges Easter Sunday’s continued status as a day of significance across the country, and maintains the ability of workers to take a period of leave over the Easter holiday if they choose,” Mr Woodhouse says.

He admits the current rules covering shop trading over the Easter period are “complex and relatively arbitrary.”

“The [current] law allows certain shops selling specific items to remain open, while others must close their doors,” he says.

He adds that many of the existing exemptions for shop trading on Easter Sunday are outdated and create an “unfair advantage for certain businesses and regions.”

He says there is a demand from communities across the country to allow for shop trading on Easter Sunday.

Only changes to Easter Sunday are being proposed, Mr Woodhouse says this reflects the added religious and cultural significance attached to Good Friday, Anzac Day and Christmas, which remain subject to restrictions.

“MBIE will develop an information plan to communicate clearly what the changes are and will work with territorial authorities through Local Government New Zealand to ensure communities are aware of the changes to shop trading and how they will be implemented.

“This will include informing the public that enforcement across the restricted trading days will not change,” he says.

The law change is expected to come into effect from Easter 2017.

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