Market off, shops shut for Anzac morning

Rotorua shops and markets will be closed until 1pm on Anzac Day.

Rotorua's shops will be closed until 1pm on Saturday to mark Anzac Day - which will also mean the popular Saturday market at Kuirau Park will not be going ahead.

For the first time the holiday has been "Mondayised," meaning it is a long weekend for many, but trading restrictions still apply for Saturday morning.

Shops around the city are forced to stay shut until 1pm, with some exceptions such as dairies and service stations.

Trading restrictions do not apply on Monday, despite it being a public holiday.

The Holidays Act was amended in January 2014 to enable Waitangi Day and Anzac Day public holidays to be "Mondayised," or transferred to a Monday, if they fall on a weekend. This is the first time it has happened.

Rotary Club of Rotorua North member Paul Adlam said it was rare for the market not to go ahead and it had only happened a handful of times.

The Rotorua RSA has a special dispensation to allow it to serve alcohol from 11am, when they open. People need to either be a member, or signed in by a member, to visit the RSA.