Easter trading laws need to be fairer, consistent – business association

A sign displaying Easter trading hours on a shop window at the Albany Mega Centre. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Business owners are rubbishing the Easter trading laws as a farce while shopworkers put up their feet and enjoy time off.

Outspoken Auckland Newmarket Business Association chief executive Cameron Brewer said today the current laws were absurd and needed to be updated.

"This weekend Department of Labour inspectors will be out fining Wanaka retailers but not Queenstown ones. They'll be fining Rotorua shops, but not Taupo shops. Parnell is also exempt, as are garden centres on Sunday, but hardware stores selling plants could be fined," Mr Brewer said.

"Wanaka is currently over-run by 80,000 visitors to Warbirds Over Wanaka, yet businesses that want to serve the public can only do so by breaking the law."

Mr Brewer said what was needed was an exemption programme which would enable places like Wanaka to remain open.

"This is not about opening up all the shops across the country...rather, this is about being fairer and providing some consistency, particularly for tourist towns."

Mr Brewer also questioned the practice of prosecuting shops that opened against the rules.

"Government officials, on time-and-a-half, will be out today searching for shops that are open and issuing them with $1000 fines," he said.

"It's a waste of time and taxpayers' money because even when they catch a shop open, the business continue to trade for the rest of the day. It's like something out of the 1970s. It is a futile and costly exercise and a complete farce."

But the National Distribution Union (NDU) said keeping Easter trading laws were critical for workers to have guaranteed time off.

NDU vice president Margaret Dornan said she hoped this Easter would not be her last at home.

"You've only got three and a half days a year when shops aren't open. Retail workers I speak to ask when they are supposed to get some time off with their family if shops opened over Easter?" she said.

"People want to stay home and be with their family, go to sports events or church at Easter, and I don't know why money and profit should be put before family time."

However, business owners do not appear to agree, with many flaunting the rules and opening today despite Labour Department threats of fines.

- NZPA