3 weeks Ago By Tom Rose
Easter weekend will see most stores closed due to the Shop Trading Hours Act 1990. Good Friday and Easter Sunday have restricted trading, with exemptions for essential services and specific areas. Public holiday surcharges apply on Good Friday and Easter Monday, with alcohol sales regulated separately.
Expect New Zealand towns and cities to be a little sleepier this weekend, as Easter delivers a four-day break for Kiwis and most shops closed this Friday and Sunday. Under the Shop Trading Hours Act 1990, retail stores in Aotearoa are required to close over three-and-a-half days every year. With Good Friday and Easter Sunday counting for two of the restricted trading days, this weekend looks especially different for employers, workers and customers.
In 2016, the act was amended to let councils set their own local Easter Sunday trading policies - although Good Friday remains a restricted trading day under the changes..
