media release: Retailers want the Easter Sunday problem resolved quickly

15 April 2004

"It was disappointing to see another shambles in retail stores around the country on Easter Sunday," says John Albertson, chief executive of the New Zealand Retailers Association.

He is responding to media reports on prosecutions by the Department of Labour against retailers who opened on that day in spite of the law that requires most shops be closed.

"We worked hard with Government after Easter last year to develop a solution that had broad acceptance from retailers, consumers and employees. The report of the Minister of Labour's 'Shop Trading Hours Working Group' issued in June 2003 recommended a sensible way forward and those recommendations were adopted as amendments to the Bill before Parliament sponsored by Rodney Hide MP.

"Regrettably the report was delayed in the Select Committee and that meant that Parliament was unable to conclude the legislation in time to allow trading on Easter Sunday.

"Consequently, we again saw some traders openly defying the law out of frustration. This did not need to happen," Albertson says. "The ball is firmly in Parliament's court to get this resolved, once and for all. It's in no-one's interest to see it dragged on any further."

Some reports had suggested that government was proposing open trading 365 days of the year. Albertson responded to this, saying: "The proposed changes apply only to Easter Sunday. Most shops will still be required to remain closed on Christmas Day, Good Friday and up to 1pm on ANZAC Day. We accept that as there is only limited support in the community to open shops on other days."

-end-

Further Information:

John Albertson      027 445 9400
Chief Executive Officer
jalbertson@retail.org.nz

Cliff Daly      025 371 391
Industrial Relations Consultant
cdaly@retail.org.nz

New Zealand Retailers Association Inc, National Office
Level 8, Willbank House, 57 Willis Street, Wellington. 
www.retail.org.nz