Employers must follow the law under the Shop Trading Act 1990. If they do not, the Labour Inspectorate can respond with education or take enforcement action.
Employees should also know when they can be required to work and what they should be paid for working during Easter.
When shops can open
David Milne, Labour Inspectorate Compliance Manager for the northern region, says there is often confusion about when shops can open on restricted trading days.
"On 3 and a half days every year, most shops must close under the Shop Trading Hours Act 1990. These are Christmas Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and until 1pm on ANZAC Day."
“Easter Sunday, 5 April 2026, is a restricted trading day under the Act, meaning most shops must stay closed. However, some shops may open if they meet certain conditions.”
Shops that can trade on Easter Sunday
Shops allowed to trade include:
- pharmacies
- dairies
- petrol stations
- restaurants and cafes
- hairdressers, and
- barbers.
Farmers and crafts markets may also operate. Cafes can open if their principal business is selling prepared/cooked food and coffee for immediate consumption. This includes coffee sold from coffee carts.
“These businesses have conditions they must meet, but they can be open and trade,” says Mr Milne.
Shops in exemption areas
Mr Milne adds that some shops may also open on restricted trading days if they hold an area exemption. This is typical in high tourist areas such as Taupō, Rotorua or Queenstown.
Local councils can adopt policies allowing shops in their district, or parts of it, to trade on Easter Sunday. If they do, they must notify the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE).
Good Friday is different to Easter Sunday. There are shops that can open on Easter Sunday because the local council has adopted an Easter Sunday shop trading policy. This doesn’t mean these shops can open on Good Friday.
Employees do not have to work on Easter Sunday
“Employees have the right to refuse work on Easter Sunday without providing a reason. This applies to all shop employees, including those in exempted shops like dairies and petrol stations, as well as staff doing non-trading work like stocktaking or stocking shop shelves," says David Milne.
Employers must inform employees in writing of their right to refuse to work between 4 and 8 weeks before Easter Sunday.
“We want both employers and employees to understand that they have responsibilities and rights, and must follow the correct process whether an employer wants an employee to work on Easter Sunday, or an employee chooses not to.”
If a business is not following Easter trading laws
If you suspect a business is not following Easter trading laws, you can report it to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE).
Use our online form to report it:
More information
More information on Easter trading regulations can be found on the Employment New Zealand website.