Garden centres open for Easter trade

Ann Kilgour can't wait to plant her birthday gift after finding Rotorua garden centres open on Good Friday.
Being a keen fisherwoman, on most days off the Rotorua clerical worker is cruising the region's waterways in search of the perfect catch.
However, the Easter Weekend has provided her with enough time to catch up on the gardening.
When the Daily Post caught up with her and best friend Nan Morrison, she had bought herself an orange berry plant from Oderings Nurseries for her birthday yesterday.
"I'm stoked they are open. It's just excellent," she said.
Oderings Nurseries manager Cathy Hight said trade was brisk in Rotorua on Good Friday, with hundreds of gardeners snapping up bargains on offer at the store's sale.
"It's been really steady and everyone has been nice.
"We've had no fighting over plants and everyone seems to have gone away happy," she said.
Oderings owner Darryn Odering said his chain of 10 stores had been opening on Easter weekend since 1972 and would keep doing so while there was demand.
"Business was booming all day. It makes basic sense for people who have a long weekend to want to do their gardening. "This can be one of our busiest days," he said.
When legislation changed in 1990 with the Shop Repeal Bill Act, shop owners were not consulted on the issue, Mr Odering said.
"It just doesn't make sense. Indications are that people would rather do their gardens than buy videos or car parts, and yet these stores can open.
"People want to be able to buy plants or they wouldn't come shopping," he said.
Over the years Oderings has been fined a total of $60,000 for breaching the law.
Palmers Garden Centre owner Darryl Pierce said business had been bustling all day on Friday.
His store had only closed once on Good Friday and that was eight years ago, Mr Pierce said.
"The only time we have had any complaints was that one day we were closed. Everyone has been happy, from the staff to the shoppers," he said.
Deputy Secretary for Workplace Andrew Annakin confirmed that 31 retailers, mainly garden centres, around New Zealand were visited by Department of Labour inspectors. Six were closed.
"These visits could result in the retailer being issued with a warning or summonses, depending on the retailer's specific circumstances," he said.
However, no inspectors visited Rotorua yesterday.