Along with tourist town Wanaka in the South Island, Raglan shops are overlooking the Easter trading laws this year. On Good Friday the SuperValue and Four Square supermarkets were open along with many other retailers. And they were doing a great deal of business.
Some shops can open on the Easter holidays. These include souvenir shops, dairies, pharmacies, real estate agencies, restaurants, takeaway bars and cafes, service stations and shops providing services and not selling goods such as, video/DVD rental shops, hairdressers.
With a quirky Raglan approach, the SuperValue supermarket was open breaching the non-trading law, but inside the shop it had the liquor area cordoned off. So it was not following one law but following another one.
Last Easter, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment took no prosecutions under the Shop Trading Hours Repeal Act 1990. It was reported after Easter 2014 the ministry had decided to act only when a complaint was laid. So although the shops concerned risk prosecution and a $1000 fine, it seems unlikely that the law will be policed this year.