​Ōpōtiki District Council adopts Easter Sunday Trading Policy

At an Extra Ordinary council meeting on Wednesday 16 April 2025, Ōpōtiki District Council adopted an Easter Sunday Trading Policy, allowing businesses to decide for themselves whether or not to open on Easter Sunday.

Historically, shops have had to close on three and a half days each year in New Zealand - Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Anzac Day (until 1pm) and Christmas Day.

With a law change in 2016, districts could choose to pass an Easter Sunday Trading Policy giving shops the freedom to open or not on Easter Sunday. Ōpōtiki passed its first Easter Sunday Trading Policy in 2017. That policy lapsed in 2023, and council drafted a proposal to reinstate a Policy in time for Easter 2025.

The draft policy was open for public consultation during March and April. Nine submissions were received – six in support and three against.

Submitter, Barry Hill, spoke to his submission on the proposal in favour of the policy.

“I’m not one for hyperbole…. I am in support of this policy and if you want to trade on Sunday and employ people to do so, you should be able,” Mr Hill said.

During earlier councillor discussions on the policy, Ōpōtiki Mayor, David Moore, noted that the lapse of the policy had been difficult for some of the bigger businesses in the district.

“Last year the policy lapsed, and no shops were able to choose to open on Easter Sunday and several businesses and their customers expressed frustration with that. So with the Policy reinstated this year, it will give businesses a choice again whether or not they will open,” Mayor Moore said.

Discussion at the council meeting also touched on legislative protections for workers who may be asked to work on Easter Sunday. Councillors note that because the day is not a public holiday, employers and employees should be well aware of their rights and obligations.

The final Easter Sunday Trading Policy will come into effect from today [16 April 2025] and will be available online in the coming days.