Case Made for Easing Easter Shopping Restrictions

18 November 2005

Media Release

NZ Chamber of Commerce Makes Case for Easing of Easter Shopping Restrictions

The New Zealand Chambers of Commerce has made a presentation to Minister of Commerce Lianne Dalziel giving total support to a campaign by Wanaka’s business community for an easing of Easter shopping restrictions.

“The Minister conceded that Wanaka retailers were disadvantaged in not being able to open over the Easter period, while they could in nearby Queenstown and other holiday towns such as Russell in the Bay of Islands,” said Michael Barnett, chairman of the New Zealand Chamber of Commerce management committee.

While Minister Dalziel expressed concern at the direction of Chamber advocacy for unrestricted shopping hours, she agreed that the current arrangements allowing exceptions to some towns and not others on regulations stating when shops must close was unfair and inequitable.

“I believe that our key point that ‘there is no level playing field’ on shopping hours between different cities and towns and needs to be fixed, was sympathetically received by the Minister,” said Michael Barnett.

ENDS

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