Easter Sunday trading to be decided this month

With Easter just around the corner, many people and businesses are already considering which shops will open and which will remain closed this Easter Sunday.

Ōpōtiki Mayor, David Moore, said that it was a good opportunity for people to consider the “right fit” for the district whether or not to have an Easter Sunday Trading Policy.

Historically, shops have had to close on three and a half days each year in New Zealand - Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Anzac Day (until 1pm) and Christmas Day.

With a law change in 2016, districts could choose to pass an Easter Sunday Trading Policy giving shops the freedom to open or not on Easter Sunday. Ōpōtiki passed its first Easter Sunday Trading Policy in 2017.

“Here in Ōpōtiki we had a Policy for seven years and it appeared to work well. I think a lot of people got used to having some big businesses, particularly the supermarket, open on that Sunday.

“Last year the policy lapsed, and no shops were able to choose to open on Easter Sunday and several businesses and their customers expressed frustration with that. So we’re looking to reinstate a Policy in time for this Easter Sunday and give businesses a choice again whether or not they will open.

“So in the coming week or so I would encourage people to have their say on whether or not a local Easter Trading Policy is the right fit for the Ōpōtiki District,” Mayor Moore said.

Submissions on the draft Local Easter Sunday Trading Policy can be made online at Connect | Hono Mai, via email to info@odc.govt.nz or in paper form dropped or posted into council offices.