Hamilton City Council votes on Easter Sunday trading
Council has made the call on Easter Sunday shopping in the Tron
City councillors have voted against adopting an Easter Sunday trading policy.
In February council opened the debate on Easter trading to public consultation, with consultation ending May 9.
Council received 255 submissions from the public of which 159 submitters, or 71 per cent, thought the council should not approve the policy.
Reasons advanced by those opposed to Easter trading included that: Easter Sunday was a day of religious or cultural recognition; Easter Sunday should be a day of rest or a day with family; and individuals should have the choice whether to shop or not.
Mayor Andrew King said it was not about religion but supporting the vulnerable, who earned the minimum wage in the service industry, and making sure they had a day to spend with their family.
Submitter Charlotte Sagow said Easter is a special time for everyone.
“Having that certainty of not working on Easter Sunday gives the opportunity to many who normally work weekends as ‘fill-ins’ to be free to join in family life and reunions on special holidays,” she said.
Councillor Mark Bunting was one of three councillors who voted for the policy.
“I do think religion did sway the vote, as most of the 200-odd submissions we had were from a Christian angle,” he said. “I am a Christian myself, but I voted for stores being able to open on the day.
“While I have what I consider to be a great relationship with my God, I’m certainly not going to impose my personal and spiritual beliefs on Hamilton.”
The other main argument in the meeting, according to Bunting, was for “the poor shop workers” who would be losing a day off.
“One day off in the middle of a disjointed holiday weekend means that people wouldn’t be able to leave town anyway,” he said.
Retail NZ general manager Greg Harford said they are “disappointed to see Hamilton City Council take a decision that denies choice”.
At Easter this year more than half of New Zealanders engaged in some sort of commercial activity, according to Mr Harford. “The decision to ban most shops from opening in Hamilton city simply means that some consumers may be inconvenienced.”
The council voted against the policy eight to three.
- The Shop Trading Hours Act 1990 was amended on August 29 2016 allowing councils, through the adoption of an Easter Sunday Shop Trading Policy, the ability to enable shops to trade within all or parts of their districts/cities on Easter Sunday.
