Golden Bay

 

Tata Beach, Tarakohe Golden Bay Photo R. Therkleson

Golden Bay shops and businesses able to trade on Easter Sunday

On the recommendation of the Golden Bay Community Board, Tasman District Council has adopted its Easter Sunday Trading Policy, enabling shops and businesses throughout the Golden Bay Ward to trade on Easter Sunday if they wish. 

The decision by the Full Council meeting today Thursday 24 February, has made the  policy effective in time for Easter Sunday this year on the 17th of April. 

It comes after the Tasman District Council ran an informal community engagement together with Nelson City Council. 

A joint community survey was undertaken concerning Sunday trading and Golden Bay was the only area that supported Sunday trading by 65%.

So in May 2021, the Council delegated to the Golden Bay Community Board the power to prepare an Easter Sunday Trading Policy for the the Golden Bay ward, up to but not including its adoption, under the Shop Trading Hours Act. 

Tata Beach, Tarakohe Golden Bay Photo R Therkleson

Council advised that staff provided the Board with a draft Policy and consultation was undertaken from 29 October to 5 December 2021. Of 26 submissions received, 20 supported the change.

 

The Board acted as the Submissions Hearing and Deliberations Panel and met on 26 January 2022 to hear submitters and consider the submissions received. 

The Board voted to recommend that the policy be adopted by Council.  

At the Tasman District Council meeting on Thursday, Golden Bay ward councillor Celia Butler moved the resolution to adopt the policy, saying she believed it would help support tourism in Golden Bay.

In making the decision, the Council and the Board recognised the importance of tourism-related trade to the Golden Bay economy and enabling local businesses to choose whether they open on Easter Sunday will help attract and support visitors to the region over the Easter period.  

Golden Bay

Council will be asking for feedback around adopting a similar policy in other wards in the district during its next residents survey, which will take place in May 2022.  

While enforcement of the Shop Trading Hours Act 1990 is carried out by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Council staff pointed out that pursuant to the Shop Trading Hours Act all shop employees will have the ability to refuse to work on Easter Sunday without any repercussions to their employment relationship. 

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