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More than three-quarters of retailers visited by Labour Department inspectors yesterday were flouting Good Friday trading rules.
Department staff checked on 25 stores around the country and found 19 trading illegally. Most were garden centres.
Andrew Annakin, the department's deputy secretary (workplace), said most stores visited were likely to have been prosecuted before.
"These visits could result in the retailer being issued with a warning or summons, depending on the retailer's specific circumstances."
The department visits annually on the 3 1/2 restricted days set out in the Shop Trading Hours Repeal Act 1990.
The act allows only certain shops that provide essential supplies to open on Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Christmas Day and half of Anzac Day. These include shops providing ready-to-eat food, souvenir and duty-free shops, and pharmacies.
Special trading rules also apply for retailers selling liquor. While punters at the Blues vs Cheetahs match at Eden Park last night could happily buy a drink, most pubs in Auckland had to close, or defy the law.
Hospitality Association chief executive Bruce Robertson said pubs and bars that held a tavern licence couldn't open on the 3 1/2 days unless they were open only for dining.
But clubs such as the Returned Services Association and sport clubs could open normally. Venues holding entertainment licences, such as night clubs and strip clubs, could also trade normally.
"It's an absolute nonsense. This legislation is outdated. The difference between a restaurant and a bar is very hard to determine," he said.
"The reality is that when the public are having a long weekend holiday such as Easter ... it's ridiculous that they can't go have a drink."
These 3 1/2 special days, created under the provision of the Sale of Liquor Act, should be normalised like any other day, Mr Robertson said.
Newmarket Business Association general manager Cameron Brewer said the inconsistent trading laws would cause a "circus" this weekend.
"We're again going to see retailers marched off to court, with shop owners, managers and supervisors threatened with fines of up to $1000.
"No one's pushing to have their doors open 365 days a year, but retailers deserve consistent rules up and down the country."
But the National Distribution Union, which represents retail workers, said the association wanted to steal Easter from retail workers.
More visits are planned tomorrow.
