Many stores in Wanaka's central retail area of Helwick, Dunmore, and Ardmore Sts opened their doors yesterday morning, despite a national reminder issued by the Department of Labour for businesses not to contravene Easter trading rules.
Wanaka shop owners also ignored a plea from local Chamber of Commerce president Leigh Stock for retailers to play by the rules this year.
Those retailers who had opened yesterday had made an individual decision to do so, he said.
The chamber had advised its members of the law and most retailers in Wanaka were well aware of their responsibilities.
"If there are a number [of stores] which have opened, maybe it is an indication of demand by visitors wanting to shop," he said.
Wanaka was a tourism destination and popular with visitors every Easter.
"The reality is we should have an exemption just the same as Queenstown when we are both destinations for tourists and visitors," Mr Stock said.
Southland shoppers Maggie and Robyn Ward browsed the Helwick St stores yesterday, saying they saw no reason Wanaka retailers should not be able to open, like in Queenstown.
"It is a tourist town. Why not? They've just finished up the Festival of Colour. There are loads of people here visiting for school holidays as well. It doesn't make sense to close," Robyn said.
"As long as they're not selling alcohol, then I think it is OK for the shops to open," Maggie said.
The main group of businesses open in Wanaka yesterday were retailers selling men's and women's clothes, outdoors and winter sports equipment and clothing and book stores.
A significant proportion of outdoor sporting and clothing stores were holding sales. Lakefront cafes, jewellery stores, and also the resort's grocery stores and supermarkets opened as usual.
Shops must stay closed on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, under the Shop Trading Hours Repeal Act 1990 - although tourist towns Queenstown and Taupo have notable exemptions from the law.
With Anzac Day coinciding with Easter Monday this year, retailers have been reminded they are also bound under the Act to keep shops closed until 1pm.
Paper Plus Wanaka manager Chris Lumsden said small towns which drew visitors during public holidays should have exemptions to trade as usual during Easter. Paper Plus Wanaka defended its right to open at Easter in 2005, when the business was last charged with a breach of the Act by the Department of Labour.
"The judge basically told the department they were wasting the court's time and called for a more common-sense approach. Story over," Mr Lumsden said.
In Dunedin yesterday, video stores, coffee shops, and takeaway bars were open, as they were allowed to be under regulations.
A trip through the city in the afternoon showed retailers appeared to be staying within the law.
