Rotorua pays the price at Easter because of Labour's incompetence
Shops in the popular tourist destination of Rotorua will remain shut over Easter because Labour has failed to act on its
promises for the third year running, says National Tourism Spokesperson Pansy Wong.
"Three years of empty promises and lack of action by Margaret Wilson over shop trading hours mean Rotorua misses out
again.
"Garden centres and retailers should have the choice to open and trade in this area. To force them to close is simply
driving people away.
"This affects not only Roturua, but New Zealand as a whole because it is a tourist destination.
"Labour backbencher Steve Chadwick was so frustrated with Margaret Wilson doing nothing about this, she resorted to
sponsor the Rotorua City Council's bill for the resumption of Easter shop trading for Rotorua.
"Margaret Wilson's pleadings to Parliament last month that the bill be passed because Rotorua was a tourist centre were
ironic. The local council put forward this bill because Margaret Wilson has done nothing to advance the legislation that
she promised to open up choice for shop trading at Easter.
"Unfortunately the bill failed and this top tourist destination will miss out again," says Mrs Wong.