Retailers face Easter trading fines

Rotorua retailers are angry at the prospect of facing court action for flouting "archaic" Easter trading laws.

More than 50 retailers have been summoned to court for illegally opening on Easter Sunday as part of the city's Jambalaya festival.

Sounds Music Store owner Frans Schaeffers said upstanding members of the community were being treated like criminals for breaking the "antiquated" law.

Many of those who are being taken to court did not open their shops but ran stalls on the footpaths outside as part of a promotion organised by Retail Rotorua and Rotorua District Council's events arm.

"I am being treated like a criminal but there are no victims. I was only breaking a law which is stupid -- not hurting people."

However, Mr Schaeffers plans to plead guilty and will pay the fine "under protest".

Many retailers thought they were getting around the law by operating stalls outside their shops.

There is a legal exception for shops at genuine exhibitions or shows -- the category many believed the Rotorua stalls would fall into.

The 54 retailers involved face fines of up to $1000.

Rotorua district councillor Mark Gould, of Gould Photographics, also faces prosecution.

He said: "If I didn't support the Jambalaya I would have been criticised and now that I'm being taken to court I will be criticised."

He believes the Department of Labour deliberately picked on Rotorua.

"You don't send two car-fulls of inspectors out of Auckland on Easter weekend at considerable cost unless you are deliberately targeting somewhere."

Rotorua MP Steve Chadwick said she was "very saddened" to hear about the summons. "It confirms what an ass the law is," she said.

- DAILY POST (ROTORUA)