Proposed Kāpiti Coast Easter Sunday trading

From Monday 4 September, Kāpiti residents now have the opportunity to be heard about whether Easter Sunday shop trading should be allowed on the Kāpiti Coast.

So that there could be a public conversation on the topic, the Council’s Strategy and Policy Committee yesterday proposed a draft policy for an Easter Sunday shop trading consultation.

Mayor K Gurunathan says if a policy was adopted after consultation, local businesses could make their own decision to open or not on Easter Sunday. Employees have the legal right to refuse to work on Easter Sunday. Certain specified businesses, like dairies, petrol stations, and takeaways, are already able to trade if they wish under the existing legislation.

“This is a really important community debate that is happening all around the country right now. Locally, we are going to see extremely strong views for and against opening businesses on Easter Sunday. It’s really essential that we have this conversation and not shy away from it.”

If a policy is adopted by Council following consultation, Easter Sunday shop trading could come into effect by 2018. If a policy is not adopted, only the few shops currently permitted by law to open would be open.

Further information and advice from central government agencies on trading rules, as well as instructions for how to submit opinions during the public consultation period, are available through the Council website.

Consultation closes on 8 October 2017.