Rule change for hospo trading in time for Easter

New rules around Easter trading for hospitality venues will come into effect just in time for the long weekend.

The Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Sales on Anzac Day Morning, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Christmas Day) Amendment Bill, which clarifies trading and service restrictions across the four restricted trading days in the calendar year, passed its third reading on 1 April and received Royal Assent on 2 April.

Hospitality New Zealand is welcoming the legislative changes, which remove confusion around trading restrictions for a number of New Zealand public holidays.

It represents a significant change in how hospitality venues have been required to operate across Easter weekend, most notably the requirement to only serve drinks with a meal.

Kristy Phillips, Hospitality NZ’s Chief Executive, says that the new rules mean hospitality venues will be ready to operate and welcome guests as they would any other weekend of the year. “Until now, the Easter Holiday Weekend has consisted of four days of trade, each with a completely different set of rules as to how hospitality can trade.

“This new bill removes confusion for our operators and their guests by removing operational restrictions put in place by a dated piece of legislation. Operators can now trade if they wish to do so.

“With Easter this weekend, many members of the public won’t be aware that venues can now operate as normal. We encourage people to go and enjoy your local venue or make the most of the hospitality on offer if travelling across the motu this weekend.

“We thank Hon. Kieran McAnulty for putting the bill forward, and to MPs who have supported this bill through Parliament, introducing a meaningful change to how hospitality businesses operate across these days.”

The Ministry of Justice has published a fact sheet outlining the changes here.