Reinstate Easter Sunday Trading

29 March 2004

Strong Winery Support to Reinstate Easter Sunday Trading

A survey of wineries has shown strong support for the Easter Sunday trading provisions of the Sale of Liquor Amendment Bill (No. 2) which is currently before Parliament.

New Zealand Winegrowers conducted a survey of wineries last week, and of the 147 wineries who responded, 142 were in favour of Easter Sunday trading, while just 5 were against the proposal.

The Sale of Liquor Amendment Bill (No.2) has been reported back to Parliament from the Commerce Committee with a report favourable to Easter Sunday trading. If passed the Bill would reinstate the ability of wineries to open on Easter Sunday as they were able to during the 1990’s.

Commenting on the survey results, New Zealand Winegrowers’ C.E.O. Philip Gregan said, “The results of the survey are unsurprising. We were aware of the strong support in the industry to re-instate Easter Sunday trading, and this has come through very clearly in the survey.”

Mr Gregan said the industry was hopeful the Sale of Liquor amending legislation might be passed in time for Easter this year. “There is very strong interest from tourists and the industry in Easter Sunday trading for wineries. Obviously wineries are very keen to open this coming Easter Sunday, but to do that we need the amending legislation passed within the next two weeks.

If the legislation is passed, visitors to popular holiday destinations such as Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, Nelson, Marlborough, Waipara and Central Otago will be able to visit a winery on Easter Sunday as they did throughout most of the 1990’s”

ENDS

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