Saturday shopping confusion

Whangarei shoppers disappointed at the lack of action in the central city on Waitangi Day will find even less chance for retail therapy on the next public holiday - Anzac Day.
Waitangi Day, February 6, which this year fell on a Saturday, and Anzac Day, April 25, which falls on a Sunday, are the only public holidays that do not transfer to a Monday  if they fall on a weekend.
Last Saturday shoppers entering central Whangarei expecting shops to be open  were disappointed to find most of the stores  closed, especially in Cameron St Mall.
Mall manager Merv Williams said the Holidays Act requires  employers  to give staff time and a half pay and a day off in lieu of the public holiday.
It was the main reason most retailers decided to remain closed on Waitangi Day.
"That (Holidays Act) makes it totally uneconomic for some to open," Mr Williams said.
"Traditionally this time of year is not good for retailers with people looking at their bills after Christmas.
"The feedback I got from retailers is that the majority didn't want to open (on Waitangi Day) because of the extra costs associated with opening on a holiday."
 There was also an element of some retailers wanting to take a holiday themselves.
And, Mr Williams said, fewer were  likely to open on Anzac Day because they could not  open until  1pm.
  It was not an easy decision for retailers to close and they did not make it lightly.
"But they also want a quality of life.
"Many of the stores would not have made enough (if they had opened) to cover their costs," Mr Williams said.
Northland Chamber of Commerce head Tony Collins said it cost shops more  to open on a public holiday. 
While cafes could impose a holiday surcharge to cover those costs, stores could not.
"It's a hard one for small businesses, particularly if there isn't the pick-up from other businesses around them," Mr Collins said. "It's a real Catch-22 situation."
It was hard for shoppers to commit to coming into town on a holiday when they did not know which stores should be open and which would not, Mr Collins said..
"They know whenever they go to, say, Okara (shopping centre), all the stores will be open at the same time, and many open late.
"Trading in Northland can be difficult enough to start with."
 The Holidays Act was an impediment to stores opening on holidays, especially  coming out of the recent recession when many businesses would not want to take any extra risks.
"The recession has taught them that where possible there's got to be a return.
"If they open for half a day on public holidays, with extra costs for staff, then they want to get a return from it."