Department reminds retailers to close on Anzac Day morning

With Easter now behind us, the Department of Labour is reminding retailers they must also close on Anzac Day until 1pm.

The Shop Trading Hours Act Repeal Act 1990 specifies three-and-a-half days each year in which most shops must close - Christmas Day, Easter Sunday and until 1pm on Anzac Day.

If a business does not fall into one of the exempted categories under the Act – or is not in an area that has an exemption issued by the former Shop Trading Hours Commission - it is an offence to open and trade during any time the law restricts trading. The owner or occupier of such a shop may be prosecuted or fined up to $1000. Retailers can contact the Department of Labour for confirmation on how the Shop Trading laws apply to their business.

As a result of inspections over Easter, a number of retailers around the country were found to be open on Good Friday when they should not have been. Most were garden centres, although there were also three music stores. On Easter Sunday, further retailers were found to be trading in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Hawke’s Bay, Wellington and in Christchurch. The Department is considering further action against all these retailers