Todd McClay

Wellington, Nov 19 NZPA - Parliament is going to debate another bill drafted to open up Easter trading.

National MP Todd McClay's member's bill to allow communities to decide whether they want their shops to open over Easter has been drawn from the ballot and will soon be on the order paper for a first reading.

Several previous attempts by MPs to change the Easter trading laws have failed, but the current Parliament hasn't had one in front of it.

The National Distribution Union (NDU) said it would strongly oppose Mr McClay's bill.

"There are only three-and-a-half shopping-free days each year when 300,000 shop and retail distribution workers know that they will not be under any pressure to work," said NDU general secretary Robert Reid.

"Our current trading restrictions on Good Friday and Easter Sunday ensure that retail workers have at least some ability to take part in family, community and religious activities at this time."

The first reading debate is likely to take place within the next three or four weeks.

Member's bills progress very slowly because they can only be debated every second Wednesday Parliament is sitting.

The Government might decide to back this one on its first reading so it is sent to a select committee for public submissions.