Most Wanaka shops traded over Easter in breach of the Shop Trading Hours Repeal Act 1990, but no-one has complained.
• Push to free up Easter trading
The only Otago complaints received by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment were one in Alexandra and one in Queenstown.
In response to Otago Daily Times inquiries, ministry communications adviser Philippa Norman said nationally, 18 complaints were received by 1pm yesterday.
The ministry could investigate possible breaches of the law and bring a prosecution through the District Court, Ms Norman said.
The maximum fine for a breach of the law is $1000.
However, as none of the 18 had previously been warned or prosecuted, none would be prosecuted.
Last year, 46 complaints were received by the ministry and two businesses were prosecuted. One was fined $1000 and the other $500.
Ms Norman said the ministry had 41 inspectors nationwide, whose primary responsibilities involved investigating breaches of minimum employment rights, such as failing to pay minimum wages and issues such as migrant exploitation.
