Whangarei businesses abide by Good Friday trading laws

Trading bans during key holidays such as Easter allow retail workers guaranteed time-off and must remain, the National Distribution Union (NDU) says.
Most retailers, excluding eateries, pharmacies, dairies and service stations, are banned from trading on Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Anzac Day morning and Christmas Day. However, many shops open and say their profits outstrip the $1000 fine.
It seemed Whangeri retailers were abiding by the laws on Good Friday with businesses in the CBD closed. The Cameron Street Mall was deserted. The Dicken's Inn was open and had a number of punters enjoying meals and a glass of their favoured tipple.
Finding a park outside the Warehouse and other big chain stores at the Okara Shopping centre would have proved no problem - except the doors were firmly closed on all those businesses.
NDU general secretary Robert Reid said the three and a half shopping-free days were the only ones when shop workers knew they would not be under any pressure to work.
"Current trading restrictions are not onerous," he said as shops could open 361-1/2 days a year and 51 of 52 Sundays.
"Shop trading restrictions are there to ensure a bare minimum of non-trading days that celebrate and encourage family life, community activity and religious observances over narrow commercial interest," he said.
Parliament had rejected eight bills, since 1996, to open shops at Easter but some MPs stubbornly tried to keep the issue alive despite retail workers being overwhelmingly opposed to an extension of trading on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, he said.
Meanwhile, stores across the country are set to flout Easter trading laws by opening their doors to the public this weekend.
Real Groovy in Wellington, which is set to close down, will open this afternoon and Easter Sunday in defiance of the law.
Garden centres are allowed to open on Easter Sunday, but required to close on Good Friday.
Garden Centres had been allowed to open any day they liked, until 1990 when they were left off the schedule which gave other shops, including video stores and service stations, the right to open, Mr Odering said.
Stores are taking an additional blow to trading this weekend with Easter Monday coinciding with Anzac Day, which restricts trading before 1pm.