Why is Christopher Luxon so keen to change our Easter trading laws? Public holidays are a social good, especially when shops are closed, allowing everyone a well-deserved break from the frenzy of modern life. As it currently stands, there are only 3.5 non-trading days in the entire year – Easter, Christmas Day, ANZAC Day remain as the few times when the whole country stops and takes a break. Surely we don’t need the full 365 days open for trading?
There are several reasons to keep things as they are:
- There are plenty of “trading holidays” e.g. Boxing Day, New Years Day, Labour Day, Kings/Queens Birthday, Matariki and Waitangi Day
- Special non-trading days help retain the spiritual significance of Easter and Christmas
- Non-trading on ANZAC morning helps us remember those who sacrificed their lives to protect our freedoms
- Workers deserve this special annual break to spend time with their families
But National leader Christopher Luxon vows to review our Easter trading laws if elected, saying “It’s something we’re definitely up for reviewing”
Luxon vows to review Easter trading laws
And of course our media keep pushing each year for shops to be opened:
However, the Workplace Relations Minster Michael Wood argues that our current trading restrictions should remain, as it’s important for workers get some time off to spend with family and friends. Business profits should not be put ahead of workers’ rights. Often workers don’t have much of a choice and could be coerced into working on Christmas and Easter if our laws are loosened further.
Family First opposes a change to our current trading restrictions:
“We reject any liberalisation of Easter trading laws and also Anzac and Christmas days because workers deserve this special annual break to spend time with their families. If anything, we should have more public holidays around Labour Day, Matariki and Waitangi Day,” says Bob McCoskrie, Chief Executive of Family First NZ.
“Public holidays are a social good. Poll after poll has shown that both parents and children want to spend more time doing family things like picnics and holidays together. However, this is becoming increasingly difficult as the retail industry is required to work almost every day of the year, and shoppers focus on the holiday specials. To argue that it is justified because shoppers are able to shop online is a flawed argument. If it was a valid argument, retailers in NZ would have to be open 24/7,” says Mr McCoskrie.
