Easter Sunday trading stays optional for businesses and workers

Businesses across Marlborough have the option to open on Easter Sunday – or, likewise, close – under a policy the Council adopted in a special meeting last Thursday.

Continuing a practice initially instituted in 2019, councillors unanimously agreed to allow retailers who wish to operate on the holiday to do so, while also providing for staff who do not want to work that day.

The permission starts with this weekend and continues through 2031. “In this environmental climate, it’s important to give our retailers every opportunity to serve residents and visitors to Marlborough,” Mayor Nadine Taylor said before calling the 10-minute extraordinary meeting to a close.

A panel of three councillors – Deputy Mayor David Croad, Deborah Dalliessi, and Ben Stace – recommended the Easter Sunday Trading Policy the full council adopted after reviewing public submissions.

Governance Manager Tiffany Wise explained that Council received written comments from 29 Marlburians. None addressed councillors at the meeting.

Sixteen respondents supported trading on Easter Sunday, while the others expressed specific concerns with it, mainly regarding workers.

“The policy itself is very narrow about what it can do, what it can allow,” she advised councillors.

“Nowhere can we set hours, set pay or make it a holiday – that is not in our purview. We can give businesses the option to operate.”

The deputy mayor, after moving for the policy’s approval, told his colleagues he felt it was “the right decision. This just gives people the opportunity and gives clarity to businesses who want to be open.”

Afterward, he stressed that the Chamber of Commerce and Business Trust would communicate the policy to their members.