Easter trading bill slammed as 'complete time waster'

Reid said eight bills since 1996 trying to liberalise Easter trading had failed through lack of support. Photo / Thinkstock

The retail workers' union has quickly scorned a planned parliamentary bill to allow shops to open on Good Friday.

"This is a complete time waster," National Distribution Union general secretary Robert Reid said today of National MP Tau Henare's member's bill.

Mr Henare told Radio New Zealand that if his bill was selected from the ballot he would not want it to be subject to a conscience vote -- the main reason previous bills have failed.

Parties should instead have a serious think about their position on open trade, because banning trading hurts the country's productivity and reputation overseas, he said.

Most shops must remain closed on Good Friday and Easter Sunday or face a fine of up to $1000. Exemptions apply for convenience, souvenir and duty free stores, pharmacies and shops in premises where there are bona fide shows or exhibitions.

Mr Reid said eight bills since 1996 trying to liberalise Easter trading had failed through lack of support and he questioned why Parliament would want to make things worse for the country's 267,000-strong workforce.

"Our shopping laws are already among the most deregulated in the world. New Zealanders can shop on 361 and 1/2 days a year. We can shop on 51 of 52 Sundays of the year.

"Retail workers work unsociable hours in order to meet this demand. Most are required to be available on any of a shop's opening days, especially the busiest times of weekends and public holidays.

"It seems extraordinary that Parliament would want to dismantle one of our only laws that explicitly promotes the interests of family and community over the marketplace."

Mr Reid said retailer arguments that shop trading amendments were just about choice, and that retailers would not be forced to open, were highly dubious.

If one business opened on Good Friday its competitors would be forced to also open, meaning its workers would have to forgo a day off.

Easter was one of the few times that retail workers get to see family and friends and go to reunions, jubilees and other events, many of which were planned around Easter, he said.

Yesterday the Department of Labour visited 33 stores to ensure they were complying with the law.

Of those visited, 22 were open to the public, including all of Oderings' 10 stores nationwide opened yesterday.

"It's a bit like a victimless crime... If there wasn't the demand we wouldn't be open," said director Darryn Odering.

Garden Centres had been allowed to open any day they liked, until 1990 when they were left off the schedule which gave other shops, including video stores and service stations, the right to open, Mr Odering said.

The business had been fined every year since 1994 -- last year a total of $13,500, he said.

Last year 38 shops around the country were found to be open on Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

- NZPA