Another attempt to change Easter trading laws is poised to come before Parliament as Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean continues a quest to allow Wanaka retailers to open their shops legally on the religious holiday.
Mrs Dean's latest Bill to address the Easter trading "anomaly" - as it applies to Wanaka - has been approved by her National Party caucus.
Called the Wanaka Economic Growth Strategy Bill, the proposed Bill would add exemptions to those already set out under the Shop Trading Hours Act Repeal Act (1990).
Some of New Zealand's tourist towns are exempted from the existing law, allowing retailers and businesses to trade during Easter.
The proposed Bill would allow all retailers within the Queenstown Lakes district to trade on Easter Sunday, Mrs Dean said.
"Up until now, Queenstown has enjoyed that privilege, while its neighbours in Wanaka have been shut out. This Bill will effectively address that anomaly."
The Easter trading debate had gone on for too long and it was time to sort the issue out "once and for all", Mrs Dean saidWanaka's Chamber of Commerce has endorsed the proposal.
President Leigh Stock said there were "lots" of people in Wanaka who just wanted to see the town being given the same choices on Easter trading as Queenstown.
There have been 10 unsuccessful attempts to change the Easter trading laws since 1990.
Three years ago, Mrs Dean's Easter Sunday Trading Amendment Bill was defeated 87-34 and Rotorua MP Todd McLay also failed with a private Bill.
