With another long weekend upon us, Anzac Day marks the “half-day” in the three and a half days each year when most shops across New Zealand are legally required to close.
We’ve already had the two full days off over Easter, and now it’s time for the final stretch.
Put simply, Most supermarkets and major retailers need to keep their doors shut until 1 pm.
So, if you’re planning a supermarket run after the Dawn Service, you’ll need to hold off until the afternoon.
Not everything’s off-limits, though. Dairies, service stations, and pharmacies are allowed to open.
You can still grab a bite to eat - takeaways, cafes, and bars are allowed to open as long as they’re selling prepared or cooked food that you can enjoy straight away. So don’t expect to stock up on groceries or grab a beverage for later.
Some eateries can add a surcharge if they wish, to cover the additional cost of wages on a public holiday, and this typically ranges between 10% and 15%.
One small difference from Easter Sunday is that garden centres will be closed until 1 pm. While they could open on Easter Sunday, they are restricted from opening on the morning of Anzac Day, according to the Employment New Zealand website.
As with Easter, there are a few exceptions to the trading rules for certain locations – Paihia, Tairua, Whangamata, and Whitianga.
However, some businesses are still choosing to stick with the 1pm opening time, so if you’re heading out, it’s worth checking online.
Despite it being a long weekend, Saturday and Sunday will return to normal and will not affect trading hours.
Thankfully, the next time we’ll have to wonder if supermarkets are open or closed isn’t until Christmas.
