Easter trading should be allowed, cafe owner says
Easter Weekend is the secondbusiest time of the year and retail stores across the district should be allowed to open, a Turangi cafe owner says.
Cadillac Cafe owner Rachael Lange says she supports Taupo¯ District Council’s Draft Easter Trading Policy,
‘‘I just think if you do have that religious belief, that you shouldn’t run a business on those days, then you should close on those days,’’ Lange said.
‘‘But that shouldn’t apply to everybody.’’
Currently, only specific businesses – eateries, service stations, dairies, pharmacies, garden centres and services like hairdressers, which primarily sell a service rather than a good – are permitted to open on Easter Sunday, as per the government’s Shop Trading Hours Act 1990.
A historical exemption allows supermarkets and retail stores in Taupo¯ town centre to open on Easter Sunday, but only in the CBD.
The council’s new draft policy would permit all businesses across the district to open on Easter Sunday from 10am-3pm.
Mayor David Trewavas said the policy was drafted to create consistency across the district, following government legislation in 2016,
‘‘Central government have given the decision back to the district council’s so we can consult our communities and come up with a solution going forward,’’ he said.
‘‘The big thing is that employers can’t force their employees to work on Easter Sunday,’’ he said.
As per legislation, employees can refuse to work on Easter Sunday if they wish to, provided notice is given within the specified reasonable timeframe [14 days].
Unlike Easter Friday, Easter Sunday is not a public holiday, so waged employees would not receive public holiday pay, such as time-and-a-half and a day in lieu.
Lange said it was worth opening on public holidays, even if staffing costs were higher.
‘‘If I had to close, that would be detrimental. Easter is my second-busiest time of the year, after New Years.
‘‘You imagine if nobody was allowed to open. That’d be a pretty boring holiday.’’
The public can make submissions on the draft policy until October 31 at taupodc.govt.nz/consultation.