While many businesses are set to close for half the day this Anzac Day, recent law changes have eased some restrictions, particularly for hospitality. 

Under the Shop Trading Hours Act 1990, there are four days each year when the majority of businesses face restricted trading. 

The full restricted days include Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Christmas Day. 

The 1990 act states that on Anzac Day most businesses must stay closed until 1pm. 

This year the public holiday will be Mondayised, giving Kiwis an extra day off next week without the same restrictions. However, some businesses may still be closed on Monday. 

The Government’s amendment to the law around serving alcohol will also be in force, meaning the rules for on-licence businesses have loosened for the first time. 

What will be open this Anzac Day? 

• Three types of shops can open on restricted trading days. 
• Shops allowed to open with conditions: dairies, service stations, cafes. 
• Pharmacies: can open without restrictions. 
• Shops providing services such as hairdressers: can operate during restricted hours but can’t sell products. 
• Garden centres: can’t open until 1pm on Anzac Day, despite being open on Easter Sunday. 
• Tourist areas: some have special exemptions under legislation. 
• Specific towns: Nelson, Dunedin and Wānaka can trade with conditions; Queenstown can open from noon. 
• Coromandel towns: Tairua, Whangamatā and Whitianga can trade if Anzac Day falls on a Monday or Friday. 

Shops without exemptions must stay closed during the first half of April 25. 

On-licence businesses can now operate under their usual licence conditions before 1pm thanks to a recent law change allowing hospitality businesses to sell alcohol as normal. 

“Mondayisation” does not affect shop trading restrictions because they apply only to the calendar date of Anzac Day. 

Retailers can be fined up to $1000 if they open illegally. 

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Will I be charged extra? 

Cafes and restaurants can choose to add a surcharge for opening on the morning of Anzac Day, but not on Monday. 

The surcharge covered the additional cost of wages on a public holiday, Restaurant Association chief executive Marisa Bidois said. 

The Commerce Commission has also said establishments must make it well known to customers that a surcharge will be payable before they decide to buy or engage the service. 

“It must be clearly disclosed, for example, by adding information to their website for online sales or placing a sign outside,” the commission says on its website. 

“In addition, the reason for any surcharge must be accurately described and must not be capable of misleading consumers. The surcharge should not exceed those costs, and the costs should actually be incurred by the business.”