Retail NZ has called for reconsideration of Easter trading rules that prevent stores from operating on Easter Sunday.

Stores must be closed on Easter Sunday, Good Friday, Christmas Day, and half of Anzac Day, with certain exemptions, according to the Shop Trading Hours Act 1990.

Retail NZ CEO, Carolyn Young, emphasised the confusion and inconsistency caused by the current legislation. 

“The rules are set from a more traditional, old-school perspective, but we want to see. Retailers have the opportunity to open, should they wish to – it’s their choice if they decide to or not,” said Young.

“At the moment it’s in the hands of local authorities, so every council around New Zealand can make a decision about when stores can open or not open,” she added.

Young said that opening shops on Easter Sunday meant businesses could capitalise on an influx of holidaymakers, and said it would likely be a fairly natural decision whether to trade or not.

She also advocated for the rights of retail workers, stating that the right to refuse work on Easter Sunday, under the current act, be maintained. 

Rachel Mackintosh, E tū’s national secretary, said that workers rely on Easter weekend to take time off to rest or to spend time with whānau.

First Union national retail secretary, Rudd Hughes, said that although the current act does entail confusion and inconsistency, Easter Sunday should be protected as a guaranteed day off to simplify the process.