Easter trading laws are a mess, says Key

Prime Minister John Key agrees Easter trading laws are a shambles and says he would like to see them liberalised.

There again appear to be grey areas around which retailers could and could not trade legally on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, and inconsistencies around which towns were allowed to trade, and why.

Auckland's Newmarket Business Association is lobbying for a law change to remove confusion.

Chief executive Cameron Brewer said confusion reigned high as Wanaka and Rotorua retailers were banned from trading while Queenstown and Taupo were not.

There was also confusion around licensed premises, cafes, gardening and hardware stores.

"It can't go on any longer," he said.

Mr Key agreed the situation was a mess.

"My own personal view is that there should be relaxation of those laws," he said yesterday.

The Department of Labour said the number of shops found to be trading illegally appeared to be similar to last year.

It will consider the prosecution of 38 retailers after 19 were caught trading on Good Friday and another 19 on Easter Sunday.

- NZPA