Easter Sunday trading may be permitted the Waitaki District.
The Waitaki District Council’s customer services committee this week recommended consulting on a trading policy after the council failed to consider one last year.
In a report to the committee, customer services general manager Lisa Baillie noted most districts in New Zealand had already decided on a policy. Waitaki had yet to do so but had now received two formal requests from retailers to decide on one.
The council has three options — maintain the status quo and only allow exempted businesses to trade, allow trading on Easter Sunday in parts of the district, or allow it across the whole district.
In April, the Oamaru Mail reported Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean labelled the council’s lack of action a "real shame". This week, she said it was in the district’s best interests if businesses opened.
Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said the council ought to first simply ask businesses what they wanted rather than consulting on only one possible option on the matter. The council will confirm its consultation process on August 2.
