The Governing Body has agreed to retain the status quo so that only shops currently able to trade on Easter Sunday will continue to be able to do so.
Mayor Phil Goff was in favour of preserving the status quo which, along with Good Friday, Christmas Day and Anzac Day, allows three and a half days of little or no shop trading each year.
“Most of us are fortunate not to be obliged to work on Easter Sunday. This allows us to bring our family together and escape commercialism for a day.
“In making this decision, we have asked if it is fair for the council to put pressure on the retail sector to compel people to work,” he says.
Shop Trading Hours Amendment Act 2016
The Governing Body also resolved to express its dissatisfaction with this matter being delegated to councils to resolve.
The Shop Trading Hours Amendment Act 2016 (the Act) came into force in 2016 enabling councils to adopt policies to permit more shops to open for trade on Easter Sunday.
Earlier this year Auckland Council sought feedback on whether Aucklanders wished to retain the status quo or whether the council should adopt a policy that will allow shops in all or parts of Auckland to trade on Easter Sunday from 2018.
Feedback findings
- a contrast of views between a demographically representative research survey and a self-selecting public engagement survey:
- 55 per cent in the research survey supported more shops opening
- 68 per cent in the public engagement survey supported the status quo
- business highlighted the importance of the principle of freedom of enterprise, and protections in the Act for employees who do not wish to work if more shops were to open.
- churches, faith groups, unions, Pacific peoples and some Māori were concerned for employees who would lose a guaranteed day off if more shops were to open and the need to retain time for rest, family, religious and cultural activities in support of the status quo.
