Easter trading policy up for discussion
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Shops would remain closed on Easter Sunday next year under a new recommendation by Council staff.
A report by Christchurch City Council policy staff is recommending against the region setting a new Easter Trading policy, though the door has been left open for changes in the future.
Territorial authorities can now set their own Easter Sunday trading policies after the Government passed the Shop Trading Hours Amendment Act 2016 last year.
However in a report to the Council’s Regulatory Performance Committee, staff have recommended against changes and say the majority of locals surveyed are happy with the status quo.
“Over March 2017 a sample of 770 residents were asked if they agree that all retail shops should be open for trade on Easter Sunday … at a city-wide level, 34 percent of residents agreed that all retail shops should be open on Easter Sunday and 51 percent of residents disagreed. This supports the preferred option of waiting to see if more support for a policy emerges over time,” the report said.
Under the current Act, retailers located at the Christchurch Arts Centre are allowed to continue trading, as are many other retailers including garden centres, pharmacies, souvenir shops and anyone selling prepared food or daily necessities.
At a local level, a slightly higher number of Banks Peninsula residents surveyed on the issue supported the opening of shops for trade, which was in line with many areas across the country that have high numbers of visitors over Easter.
Councils in Hurunui, Waimakariri, Selwyn and Timaru have all decided against introducing a new policy for 2017.
The report says the issue can be reviewed if significant interest in having Easter Sunday trading does emerge over time.
The Regulatory Performance Committee will review the recommendation on Wednesday.