Easter is a time for family, hot cross buns, and if you’re not careful, forgetting that the shops might be closed.
As the long weekend approaches, several rules govern which businesses can and cannot open on certain days.
There are no specific rules that impact trading on Saturday, and Easter Monday is also unaffected – it’s an ordinary public holiday.
However special restrictions affect Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
Under the Shop Trading Hours Act 1990, there are three-and-a-half days each year that most businesses must cease trading – they are restricted trading days.
These are Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Christmas Day and Anzac Day until 1pm. All of them, except Easter Sunday, are also public holidays.
A member’s bill from ACT MP Cameron Luxton which would have removed Good Friday and Easter Sunday as restricted trading days to allow businesses to open nationwide was voted down in Parliament in December last year.
Good Friday
Opening at any time on Good Friday is an offence — unless you’re an exception to the rules.
Shops that can open with conditions include dairies, service stations, and cafes, while pharmacies can open without any conditions. Hairdressers can operate, but can’t sell product.
Most supermarkets will be closed. However, some places have area exemptions, like Queenstown.
Anyone wanting to buy beer or wine tomorrow is out of luck, with liquor stores not included in the exemptions — but bars, cafes or restaurants that meet the conditions to open can sell alcohol with a meal.
If a shop opens without fitting one of the exemption categories, the “occupier” of the shop can be fined up to $1000.
Easter Sunday
Easter Sunday is a restricted trading day but not a public holiday.
As with Good Friday, some stores like dairies are allowed to open, and it’s also covered by specific rules that mean shops can choose to open if their local council lets them.
Retail NZ has compiled a list of which districts allow shops to open, and which don’t.
Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch are among the council districts where shops cannot open unless exempt.
However, certain area exemptions apply again. For example, Auckland’s Parnell Rd is exempt on Easter Sunday from 10am to 6pm, even though the rest of the city is under strict restrictions.
In areas where trading is restricted, supermarkets will again be closed, and the same alcohol rules as Good Friday apply.
Labour MP Kieran McAnulty’s Member’s Bill to allow bars, restaurants, and supermarkets to sell alcohol without these restrictions passed its first reading under a conscience vote by 67 in favour and 54 against last week.
What about surcharges?
It is common for traders in the hospitality sector to apply a surcharge on public holidays to offset the cost of paying staff time and a half wages on those days.
The Commerce Commission said businesses should not mislead customers about the reasons for the surcharge.
“For example, a business must not claim it is applying a surcharge on Easter Sunday because it is a public holiday. This would be inaccurate because the only public holidays over the Easter weekend are Good Friday and Easter Monday. Saturday and Sunday are not public holidays.”
A surcharge must be clearly disclosed prior to purchasing.
“Consumers should be told about the surcharge, and what it covers, upfront so they can make a decision about whether they are prepared to pay it or buy elsewhere,” the website continued.