22 October 2015

Retail NZ Disappointed in Easter Trading Hours Legislation

Retail NZ is deeply disappointed in the Government Bill introduced today governing Easter Sunday trading hours, and says the Government is not listening to industry concerns.

“Retailers want the choice to open their doors at times when their customers want to shop – but Michael Woodhouse’s bill does nothing other than pass the buck on trading rules to local councils, impose costs on communities and ratepayers, and still tries to ban shopping on Good Friday and Christmas Day, despite the fact that customers can and do shop 24/7 on these days,” Retail NZ General Manager Greg Harford said today.

“We are particularly disappointed that Minister Woodhouse did not consult retailers about the bill, and has refused to meet us to discuss our concerns.

“Giving 67 local councils the power to make 67 bylaws about Easter Trading will mean significant cost for communities, industry, employee groups and councils, as they try to cope with a tidal wave of lengthy consultation. It will be made worse by the fact that the Government’s bill allows bylaws to be made for different areas within each Council district, and will require a review process every five years. We will likely see a patchwork of confusing and inconsistent rules being applied when a national approach would provide certainty for everyone.

“Nobody should be forced to shop on Easter Sunday, or any other time, no employee should be forced to work, and no business should be forced to open. But in 2015, these choices should rest with individuals, employees and business owners, not the Government or Council bureaucrats.

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