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The Easter trading laws aren’t working and need an overhaul, Prime Minister John Key says.
“I don’t think the law is working terribly well, but I’ve always voted in favour of liberalisation of trading laws when it comes to Easter weekend,” Key said.
The Retailers Association has suggested that shops should be allowed to open after 1pm on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, as happens on 25 April each year.
The Catholic Church however is warning that using Anzac Day as a model for trading hours during Easter would hurt the poorest and most vulnerable.
Labour Party labour issues spokesman Andrew Little says retailers in Wanaka are reported to have traded throughout the Easter break in breach of shop trading laws following a tip-off that no action would be taken if they opened for business.
Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean told Radio New Zealand she was aware inspectors would not be visiting.
Most stayed open, taking advantage of about 100,000 visitors in town for the Warbirds over Wanaka International Air show.
Little said, “The idea that a Government department can give a nod and a wink to traders that it won’t enforce shop trading laws and for a Government MP to then claim it as grounds for a review of the law is another act of third world shonkiness from National”.
18 complaints were made about businesses flouting Easter trading laws this year, but none will be prosecuted. Last year there were 46.
A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), the Government department responsible for administering the legislation, said as none of the businesses had received warnings or been prosecuted previously, none would be prosecuted for their defiance.
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