Car retailer slams lack of action on Easter trading laws

Media Release
26 August 2015

Car retailer slams lack of action on Easter trading laws

One of the country’s biggest car retailers says whether its central or local government who does it, New Zealand’s Easter trading laws need to be brought into the 21st century.

CEO of 2 Cheap Cars Eugene Williams says the lack of decision making from the government on the issue of Easter trading is not helping the economy or meeting the needs of ordinary New Zealanders.

With the government now saying it will be up to local councils to decide on Easter trading hours Eugene Williams says he is concerned there will be further delays and indecision.

“I’m also concerned that debate around opening hours for Easter Sunday and Good Friday has centred mainly around the tourism industry. The reality is that there is a huge amount of demand from ordinary New Zealanders who simply haven’t got the time to waste by being locked out of retail commerce just because of custom and practice linked to a Christian religious festival,” he says.

“New Zealanders and their families lead busy lives, mostly couples are both working, and the only time they have to consider a major purchase like a car is during the weekend and of course holiday weekends. By shutting out people from purchasing during holiday weekends the government and or local government is putting more pressure on these people as well as disadvantaging retailers,” says Mr Williams.

Mr Williams says 2 Cheap Cars was fined this year for opening on Easter Sunday.

“It is a bit ironic in this day and age when people can shop on-line whenever they want, but have arbitrary restrictions applied at holidays times for when they can buy.”

Mr Williams says 2 Cheap Cars is likely to trade again next Easter to meet customer needs but says he would rather not have to break the law in order to do so.

2 Cheap Cars is the country’s biggest importer and retailer of second hand cars in New Zealand with 12 branches across the country and another three opening next month.

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