Supermarket reaction to the Easter Sunday trading law has been mixed after the controversial legislation passed last week.
Foodstuffs New Zealand, which operates New World, Pak'n Save and Four Square, said it welcomed the law change allowing shops to trade on Easter Sunday, where permitted by local councils.
Head of external relations Antoinette Laird said Foodstuffs viewed the change as a good one.
"It has been our longstanding view that stores should have the choice to be able to serve their communities on Easter Sunday, and while we would have preferred national legislation allowing it, we are happy to work with the framework of local decision-making," Laird said.
"We expect not all our owner-operators will want to trade on Easter Sunday, and that is their choice. Likewise, those who do will be expected to strictly adhere to the new law's protections for staff who elect not to work that day."