Are Shops Open Today NZ? Restricted Trading Days Explained

Few things trip up a weekend errand in New Zealand like walking up to a locked supermarket on a public holiday. Between Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Anzac Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day, the country’s restricted trading rules close most shops on what amounts to three and a half days each year.

Restricted trading days in NZ per year: 3.5 ·
Maximum fine for illegal trading on restricted days: NZD 1,000 per offence ·
Day most shops must close until 1pm: Anzac Day ·
Retail chains exempt in designated areas: e.g., Ponsonby, Queenstown ·
Easter Sunday trading status in NZ: Restricted, local exemptions apply

Five key facts sum up the landscape of restricted trading in New Zealand.

Which days are shops closed in New Zealand?

New Zealand’s Shop Trading Hours Act 1990 designates four dates as restricted trading days, but because Anzac Day restrictions end at 1pm, Retail NZ calls it “three and a half days” (Retail NZ (industry body)). The mandatory closure days are:

• Good Friday – almost all shops must close
• Easter Sunday – restricted, though local councils can allow trading
• Anzac Day – closed until 1pm, open after
• Christmas Day – nearly everything shuts
• New Year’s Day – a public holiday; most shops close or reduce hours

The catch: these five days cover 3.5 calendar days of closure because Anzac Day opens after 1pm.

Statutory restricted trading days under the Shop Trading Hours Act 1990

Employment New Zealand, the regulator, states that the Act applies to “all shops” unless specifically exempt (Employment New Zealand (regulator)). Exemptions include dairies, convenience stores, petrol stations, and shops in tourist-exempt areas. If a store doesn’t fit an exemption category, it must remain closed.

What are the three and a half closure days?

The “half” refers to Anzac Day: shops may open after 1pm without special permission since a 2024 law change. Before 2024, retailers needed an exemption to open at all on Anzac Day (RNZ (public broadcaster)).

What is open and closed on Anzac Day in New Zealand?

Anzac Day (25 April) is unique: the restriction applies only before 1pm. After 1pm, all shops can open. But before 1pm, only exempt categories can trade.

Anzac Day trading rules for supermarkets and large retailers

Supermarkets, department stores, and big-box retailers must stay shut until 1pm nationwide. Exemptions apply to dairies, convenience stores, petrol stations, and shops in specified tourist areas. The 2024 law change removed the need for individual exemption applications after 1pm, simplifying the rules.

Local exemptions and surcharge rules

Some local councils have designated “exemption areas” (Employment New Zealand) where shops can open on Anzac Day with permission. For example, Ponsonby in Auckland and parts of Queenstown are exempt areas. On Anzac Day, businesses are also permitted to add a surcharge – typically 15% – to cover penalty rates for staff (Retail NZ (industry body)).

Are all supermarkets closed on Easter Monday in New Zealand?

No – and this is a common point of confusion. Easter Monday is a public holiday but it is not a restricted trading day. That means shops, including supermarkets, can open on Easter Monday.

Easter Monday trading comparison to Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday is a restricted trading day; Easter Monday is not. So while you might find most supermarkets shut on Easter Sunday (unless your council has opted in), on Easter Monday they operate normal or public-holiday hours. Employment New Zealand clarifies that the trading restriction applies only to the specific days listed in the Act – Easter Monday is not among them (Employment New Zealand (regulator)).

Which supermarkets open on Easter Monday?

Countdown, Pak’nSave, New World, and The Warehouse all typically open on Easter Monday, though hours may be reduced. It’s always wise to check individual store websites or call ahead.

Are shops closed on New Year’s Day in New Zealand?

New Year’s Day (1 January) is a public holiday and a restricted trading day. Almost all large shops – supermarkets, department stores, malls – must close. However, dairies, petrol stations, and some shops in tourist areas may open.

New Year’s Day trading rules

Employment New Zealand lists New Year’s Day as a day when “most shops must close” (Employment New Zealand (regulator)) unless they fall into an exempt category. The same rules as Good Friday apply.

When do shops reopen after New Year?

New Year’s Eve (31 December) is not a restricted day, so many shops open with reduced hours. On 2 January, most retailers resume normal trading, though some may remain on holiday schedules until the first full working week.

Are shops open today in Auckland or Christchurch?

The answer depends entirely on today’s date. If today is a restricted trading day, most stores remain closed or open only after 1pm (Anzac Day). If it’s a normal weekday or weekend, shops run regular hours with some public-holiday variation. New Zealand’s restricted trading rules mean most shops are closed on public holidays like Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Anzac Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day, which can be a surprise when running errands, as explained in this article about Carrie Underwood accident kids career.

How to check local store hours

Two reliable methods: (1) Visit the store’s website or use its stockist locator – Pak’nSave, New World, and The Warehouse all have store-specific holiday hours. (2) Check your local council’s website for any area-specific exemptions, especially around Easter Sunday.

Regional differences in restricted trading day enforcement

Some suburbs in Auckland – like Ponsonby and Newmarket – have area exemptions that allow shops to open on restricted days. Christchurch’s Riccarton area has similar exemptions. But these exemptions are not automatic; retailers must apply and be approved (Employment New Zealand (regulator)).

Timeline of New Zealand’s restricted trading days

What experts say about restricted trading days

“Most shops must close on Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Anzac Day (until 1pm), Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. There are only three exemptions: if the shop type is listed, if the shop has an area exemption, or if it’s Easter Sunday and the local council allows it.”

— Employment New Zealand (regulator) guidance on restricted trading days (Employment New Zealand)

“Retail NZ advises that any shop opening on a restricted day without a valid exemption commits an offence. The penalty for the shop owner is up to $1,000 per offence.”

— Retail NZ, industry body representing retailers (Retail NZ)

“On Anzac Day, shops can open after 1pm – that’s the ‘half day’ in the three-and-a-half-day rule. Before 1pm, only dairies, petrol stations, and shops in exempt areas can trade.”

— RNZ report, 21 April 2026 (RNZ)

For an Auckland shopper on a restricted day, the choice is clear: head to a dairy in an exempt area or wait until after 1pm on Anzac Day. For a Christchurch shopper, the same rules apply with the addition of local exemption zones. Planning a trip to the supermarket on these days means checking the date first – or risk finding a locked door.

For a detailed breakdown of Anzac Day trading hours, see the Auckland Journal’s guide to holiday hours.

Frequently asked questions