The Shop Trading Hours Amendment Bill currently before Parliament will grant local councils the power to allow shops to open on Easter Sunday. Good Friday trading laws will not be affected.
Mr Walsh said the bill was a step forward, but it shouldn't be a local council decision.
"It dodges the bullet in that I think it's a decision that central government need to make. But if they come out and allow the councils to do it, I'm confident our council will support and make the right decision," he said. "It should be across the board - a rule that just says 'over Easter, you can open if you wish to open'."
There were 15 Easter trading complaints nationwide - well down on the 42 lodged last year, and the lowest in at least four years.
Retail New Zealand spokesman Greg Harford said the current Easter trading laws were "completely archaic".
"We're really supportive of moves to liberalise trading over Easter. We have got some concerns about the specific legislation the Government has in the house, mainly around the bylaw giving power to local authorities," Mr Harford said.
He said the Government should have taken the opportunity to present a bill changing the law nationwide.
"It doesn't make sense. It's going to be confusing and it's really expensive to administer bylaws," he said.
Mr Harford said people who travelled on Easter weekend might unwittingly get caught in a non-trading area.
However, Mr Harford said it's a step in the right direction and there was widespread support for a change in the law.
"People still need to shop when they're away, and the whole of New Zealand is a destination. People want to get out and about and shopping is part of that."
The bill - expected to be in place by Easter 2017 - would allow any employee to refuse to work on Easter Sunday "without giving a reason".
