Retailers delighted Easter Bill will be debated

Newmarket Business Association

5 May 2006

Retailers delighted Easter Bill will be debated

News that National Party MP Jacqui Dean's Private Member's Bill to change Easter trading laws has been drawn from the ballot to be debated by Parliament has delighted the country's leading shopping district, Newmarket.

"This Easter again highlighted the crazy inconsistencies that the current legislation deals to New Zealand retailers every year. It's crazy that Parnell can open on Easter Sunday but Newmarket can't. It's crazy that visitor destinations like Taupo and Queenstown can open but the likes of Wanaka, Rotorua and Mt Maunganui can't and desperately want to," said Cameron Brewer, head of the Newmarket Business Association.

"Among other things, Newmarket wants the ability to apply for an exemption when the likes of the Rolling Stones come to town. The current legislation is unfair because while historic exemptions remain in place, there's no avenue for the likes of Newmarket to be considered for a new exemption."

Mrs Dean's Easter Sunday Shop Trading Amendment Bill grants a partial exemption from the Shop Trading Hours Act Repeal Act 1990 to allow shops in communities with significant visitor industries to open on Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

"I hope this bill gets a chance to get a rigorous select committee hearing. The rigmarole during Easter last month showed that the many issues around shop trading hours are not going away," said Mr Brewer.

ENDS

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