5 August 2004

Easter Trading Revived With Nz First Bill

The issue of Easter Sunday trading has been revived with New Zealand First MP Doug Woolerton’s private members bill drawn from the ballot today.

The Shop Trading Hours (Easter Trading Local Exemption) Bill is designed to confer power on territorial authorities to decide whether businesses can open for trade on Easter Sunday.

This bill was first lodged by Rt Hon Winston Peters in 1998 in response to a situation in the Tauranga area where businesses wanted to open to service the tourism trade, particularly cruise ships arriving with over 2,000 potential shoppers over the Easter period.

Mr Peters said that it was New Zealand First policy that issues of shop trading hours at Easter should be decided at a local level rather than being imposed from Wellington.

“This bill represents a common sense approach to shop trading hours and a much needed level of community involvement.

“It is time for a bipartisan approach to this issue which is of vital importance to Tauranga and other centres trying to cater for the commercial needs of their area,” said Mr Peters.

ENDS

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