Retail NZ has said that Easter Sunday trading was a success were stores were allowed to open, but that national rules are needed.

“Nearly 60 per cent of Councils had voted to allow retail businesses to make their own decisions about opening on Easter Sunday ahead of Easter this year, but because most of the big cities were refusing to permit choice, only around a third of retail shops were allowed to exercise their right to choose,” Retail NZ’s General Manager for Public Affairs said.

“Districts where trading was permitted saw the economic benefits of choice, with Marketview reporting a 23 per cent increase in spending compared to Easter Sunday last year.  This has been beneficial for retail businesses in places from the Far North District down to Southland, with particularly strong trading reported by retailers in Dunedin on the back of the Ed Sheeran concerts.”

Retail NZ has released research that it says shows shop workers are willing to exercise their right to refuse work on Easter Sunday.