All shops in the Queenstown Lakes district will be permitted to open on Easter Sunday as a result of a policy adopted by Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC).

At last week’s council meeting (Thursday March 20), the Easter Sunday Shop Trading Policy 2025 was approved by councillors and is effective immediately. 

The 2025 policy is a continuation of the district’s now-expired 2017 policy which permitted all shops in the Queenstown Lakes District to open if they chose to.

The new policy “promotes ease of business, recognises the needs of the retail and tourism sectors to be able to choose to open on Easter Sunday if they wish to, and applies a consistent and simple approach to Easter Sunday shop trading”, QLDC said in a statement. 

Easter Sunday is a restricted trading day under the Shop Trading Hours Act 1990 which requires shops to remain closed, except for certain shops under certain conditions. These include dairies, cafes, service stations, garden centres, pharmacies, souvenir and duty-free shops. 

In 2016, amendments to the Act enabled councils to adopt policies to permit all shops to open on Easter Sunday in the whole or a part of their district. 

This provision is only applicable to Easter Sunday and does not include Good Friday nor Easter Monday.

The Easter Sunday Shop Trading Policy 2025 does not apply to the sale or supply of alcohol. Alcohol sale and supply is regulated under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012.

Employees have the right to choose not to work on Easter Sunday. The Shop Trading Hours Act 1990 lists responsibilities for both employers and employees for Easter Sunday. 

PHOTO: Wānaka App