Tourists and locals were able to browse the aisles as some Rotorua shops opened for their first Easter Sunday following a campaign that spanned 27 years.
Through two different governments and seven attempts to change legislation, Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick and Rotorua MP Todd McClay marked the success of their hard work yesterday. "We realised it was Government taking our right away to choose, and it was Government legislation passed last year that we needed to fix it," Mr McClay said.
"As the result of the hard work we've put in for Rotorua other people can make this choice too."
Mrs Chadwick and Mr McClay said they were thrilled their combined efforts had finally paid off, putting Rotorua on a level playing field with other visitor destinations around the country.
"I realised it just this morning, but if we hadn't made the change even the farmers' market wouldn't have been able to open," he said.
Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick, local MP Todd McClay and bookseller Mike Byrne celebrate being open on Easter. Photo/Ben Fraser
McLeods Bookseller was open yesterday and book seller Mike Byrne said it was a no brainer.
"People are coming along for the farmers' market and they're delighted to see there are other shops open," he said.
"I think that if Rotorua plays the tourist destination card then it's pleasing for visitors to find that we're actually open."
Mr Byrne said it was a good thing for Rotorua and the small businesses.
"A lot of the bigger chain stores didn't open, so people are coming into their local stores," he said.
The legislation change gives choice to local retailers and employees.
Employees have the ability to refuse to work on Easter Sunday without any impact on their working relationship.
Mother and daughter Sheryll and Mandy Beveridge, who were on holiday from Whangarei, said they thought it was great for shops to be open.
"It's important for the shops to be flexible," Sheryll said.
"I think it's people's personal opinion, if you don't want to shop you don't have to and if shops don't want to open they don't have to open," said Mandy.
Shopper Sepu Toke said she'd come to have a look around, but that it wouldn't bother her if the shops had closed.
"I'm used to it, in the islands everything is closed on a Sunday, there are more important things than shopping," she said.
Legislation change
• Local councils are able to implement a policy to allow shops to open on Easter Sundays • The changes do not apply to Good Friday, for which trading restrictions will remain, and will apply across the entire district • Rotorua is the first district to make use of the law change • Stores do not have to open, it is the choice of each individual owner • Employees have the ability to refuse to work on Easter Sunday
