Have a say on Easter trade

Napier City Council has reopened consultation on the Easter Sunday Trading Policy.

This follows a judicial review on the 2016 consultation which found there was insufficient consultation on the draft policy.

Napier residents and organisations will again have the opportunity to provide feedback which includes an amendment to the 2016 Statement of Proposal to provide a broader summary of the key points both for and against the policy.

Prior to August 2016, most shops in New Zealand had to remain closed for three and a half days each year — Christmas Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and for half a day on Anzac Day. However, central government since amended the Shop Trading Hours Act 1990, effectively allowing each local council to decide whether retailers can trade on Easter Sunday.

Mayor Bill Dalton encourages the public to give feedback on the policy, particularly those most affected, but reiterates that if the updated policy is adopted, then there is still a choice for both retailers and employees.

“Being a tourist city over a busy long weekend, it’s a choice a business owner needs to make based on potential income verses whether they have sufficient staff happy to work on the Sunday.”

The submission process on the Easter Trading Policy asks if the submitter supports the proposed policy and whether Easter Sunday trading should apply to the whole or part of the district.

■ Submissions close at midday Friday, November 9, 2018. The full draft policy and statement of proposal can be viewed at www.napier.govt.nz keyword #EasterSundayTradingPolicy. Residents, businesses and organisations can also fill out an online form. Submissions can be posted to Freepost 172273 Easter Sunday Trading Policy, Napier City Council, Private Bag 6010, Napier 4142 or dropped at the front counter, 231 Hastings Street.