Easter Sunday Trading Vote Response

Easter Sunday Trading Vote Response

Cambridge Chamber of Commerce urges Waipa District Council to carefully consider its final decision on Easter Sunday trading.

The Shop Trading Hours Amendment Act 2016 came into force in 2016 enabling councils to adopt policies to permit more shops to open for trade on Easter Sunday.

Yesterday’s vote by the Waipa District Council Strategic Planning and Policy Committee favouring the status quo is disappointing and lacks vision.

Sticking with the status quo means, unless Waipa businesses have an exemption under existing government legislation, they will not be allowed to trade on Easter Sunday.

This decision adds to the calamity of options that already exist in the region with retailers being able to open in Waikato, Thames-Coromandel, Hauraki, Matamata-Piako, Otorohanga and Waitomo districts.

As Cambridge continues to strive to build recognition as a destination, the decision removes what could be a significant opportunity to allow businesses to open legitimately.

Tania Witheford, CEO Cambridge Chamber of Commerce, said that the issue of Easter Sunday trading should be about freedom of enterprise. “It’s about providing business with the choice and opportunity to trade. After all, it’s the businesses who are prepared to take all the risks and customers who choose when they will purchase products and services. If people vote with their feet at Easter and stay away, then their point is made.”

Under current employment law, an employee can decline the opportunity to work and there can be no repercussions, she said. “If this is not working, then fix that issue, not the right to trade”, Witheford said.

Cambridge Chamber’s survey of its business community members showed 59.6% in favour of allowing Easter Sunday trading.

“The Chamber’s role is to provide the best platform for business and as such we are committed to delivering our businesses with the choice to trade. There are already anomalies based on the type of business that may open on Easter Sunday, so why not take this opportunity to level the playing field?”

“People often complain when legislation gets in the way or there are too many compliance requirements and yet in this very instance we are seeking ‘nanny state’ direction to make what should be a business decision.”

ENDS

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