Wineries to Open on Easter Sunday

Monday, 5 April 2004, 9:34 am
Press Release: New Zealand Winegrowers

For immediate release
2 April 2004

Wineries throughout New Zealand will be able to open for trading on Easter Sunday this year after legislation was passed in Parliament yesterday.

The legislative change is contained in the Sale of Liquor Amendment Bill (No.2) which was passed under urgency in Parliament last evening.

Commenting on the development New Zealand Winegrowers C.E.O Philip Gregan said “This is a victory for commonsense. Until 1999 wineries were able to open on Easter Sunday, but for the past four years this has not been the case. Now Parliament has reinstated the old rules - this is good news for wineries and for tourism.”

In Parliament the Easter Sunday trading provisions were passed with broad cross-party support. “We would like to thank all the MPs who supported the legislation, and in particular Associate Minister of Justice Hon. Rick Barker who championed the reinstatement of the Easter Sunday trading provisions” said Mr Gregan.

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