Tauranga City Council is reviewing the Easter Sunday Shop Trading Policy, which allows shops to trade on Easter Sunday, if they wish to. Public consultation opens today and remains open until Friday, 15 July, to gather the community’s views on whether this approach is still right for Tauranga.
The current policy applies to all shops across Tauranga. Other regulations about the sale of alcohol and associated matters still apply. Shop staff have the right to choose not to work on Easter Sunday, if they are asked to by their employer. Easter Sunday is not a paid public holiday and people who work on Easter Sunday are not automatically entitled to additional compensation.
Council is proposing to keep the current policy allowing shops to trade if they wish to. Commission Chair Anne Tolley says the policy gives every business the opportunity to make its own decision to trade and to have conversations with their staff. “It seems the appropriate way to go,” Anne says.
“As part of this, we’re proposing to retain the citywide approach in the current policy, as opposed to allowing trading in specific locations or suburbs only.
“This aligns with the approach taken by other councils in the Bay of Plenty. It makes things simpler for businesses and consumers, because it takes the guess-work out of which shops can open and where people can shop.”
A minor policy change is proposed to clarify that events and markets which are held on Easter Sunday are included. This would help give events and markets certainty that they have the same opportunity as shops to trade on Easter Sunday, if they wish to. Easter is a popular time for visitors to come to Tauranga and events and markets make a positive contribution to the region.
Council is required to review the policy five years after its original adoption, to ensure it is still fit for purpose, and seek the community’s feedback as part of the review.
Information on the proposed changes is available at www.tauranga.govt.nz/easter, along with the full draft policy and online submission form.
Paper copies are also available at the customer service centre at 21 Devonport Road and in libraries.
Consultation closes at 5pm on Friday, 15 July.