Communities given choice with Shop Trading Hours Bill

Local Government New Zealand says letting local communities determine whether shops can open on Easter Sunday is a win for local decision-making.

The Shop Trading Hours Amendment Bill passed its third reading in Parliament last night. The Bill enables territorial authorities to decide whether shops in their district can trade on Easter Sunday.

The Bill reinforces a fundamental principle for local government and LGNZ which is that local matters should, as far as practicable, be decided by local communities through their elected representatives.

“Public policy involves balancing the interests of the public as a whole with the interests of individuals and their communities,” LGNZ Vice President, Brendan Duffy says. “In certain cases the national public interest requires that policy or regulations are applied consistently throughout New Zealand.”

“In other cases, however, it is in the public interest to allow local diversity. Easter Sunday is such an example, as the existence of exemptions testifies. The Bill allows communities to make these choices,” Mr Duffy says.

The Bill will allow communities which have strong religious or spiritual belief in the importance of Easter Sunday to ensure it remains a day with no or minimal commerce. It also allows communities which have different values or are host to significant visitor populations to take a different approach.

*Ends*

© Scoop Media