Anger Over Easter Trading Decision

9 November 2009

Media Release

“We should be past Parliament setting the rules for when and where businesses can and cannot open,” says Auckland Chamber of Commerce CEO Michael Barnett.

He was responding to the close conscience vote defeat by 62 to 59 in Parliament today of the Easter Trading Bill of Rotorua MP Todd McClay.

“It is crazy that current laws allow shops in Queenstown and Taupo to open on Easter Sunday but not in Wanaka and Rotorua.”

“It is even more crazy that in the 21st century our Parliament is still telling business where they can open in one area of New Zealand but not somewhere else.”

Shoppers will continue to vote with their feet, while businesses in banned shopping areas will miss out.

This is the 11th time Parliament has attempted to fix New Zealand’s Easter Trading nonsense in the past 20 years.

This issue should be about Parliament giving businesses and shopper’s freedom of choice, not one of Parliament picking winners and losers, said a disappointed Mr. Barnett.

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