Commentary by United Future MP, Gordon Copeland

Deputy chair, Parliament's commerce select committee

Copeland sounds alarm over Easter trading

Shortly before Christmas, the Commerce Committee reported two Easter Shop Trading Bills back to Parliament, which may consider them as early as 21 February.

The Select Committee made extensive changes to the Bills, which seek to liberalise shop trading at Easter.

The first to be considered is in the name of National MP Jacqui Dean and is now known as the "Shop Trading Hours Act Repeal (Good Friday and Easter Sunday) Amendment Bill".

It will allow shops to be open, on an unrestricted basis, on both Good Friday and Easter Sunday. When the Bill was originally introduced it proposed this only for the Wanaka and Tauranga districts but the scope has subsequently been extended by the Select Committee to cover the whole of New Zealand.

The second Bill, in the name of Labour MP Steve Chadwick, is now called the "Shop Trading Hours Repeal (Easter Sunday) Amendment Bill".

This Bill will delegate to local governments the power to open shops within their area on Easter Sunday following consultation with the citizens of that area.

Both bills will be conscience votes for Members of Parliament.

I will be opposing both bills.

Shops in New Zealand can open for 361.5 days each year and are already open for 51 of the 52 Sundays.

Put another way, we are left with only 3.5 "shop-free" days each year, namely Christmas Day, the morning of Anzac Day, Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

Jacqui Dean's Bill will, if passed by Parliament, reduce such days to just 1.5 each year.

In addition, on the "no-shopping" days, hotels and restaurants, and many other businesses may legally open to sell drinks, petrol, and souvenirs etc.

International comparisons show that New Zealand workers already work some of the longest hours in each week, of any OECD country.

A range of studies indicate deep concerns in New Zealand society around work/life balance and time for family and friends.

Accordingly I believe that the "limited shop trading" presently permitted on the remaining 3.5 "shopping-free" days per year should be the absolute minimum.

Good Friday and Easter Sunday are days of special significance to Christians and in the 2006 Census over 2 million New Zealanders identified themselves as Christian.

However, regardless of the religious significance attached to these days I believe that special days should be preserved in our society.

That means that holidays can be enjoyed by as many people as possible "in common" so that family and friends can come together for rest, relaxation and enjoyment.

I do not believe that the 325,000 people who work in the retailing sector should be excluded from those arrangements.

In summary I believe that Christmas Day, the morning of Anzac Day, Good Friday and Easter Sunday should remain as "limited shopping" holidays within the annual calendar for all New Zealanders.

ENDS

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