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Labour's Kieran McAnulty explains why he's looking to overturn Easter alcohol ban

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Wed, 1 Apr 2026, 5:54pm
Kiernan McAnulty. Photo / NZ Herald
Kiernan McAnulty. Photo / NZ Herald

Labour's Kieran McAnulty explains why he's looking to overturn Easter alcohol ban

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Wed, 1 Apr 2026, 5:54pm

Labour MP Kieran McAnulty says his member's bill to loosen liquor regulations on key public holidays will clear up confusion.

It would allow hospitality venues to sell alcohol on Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Anzac Day morning and Christmas Day - without needing to serve a meal.

The bill could be in place by this Easter weekend, with its final reading underway in Parliament.

McAnulty says venues currently have to operate under different rules than the rest of the year, which doesn't make any sense.

"All I'm proposing is that on these days, the businesses that are already operating and the workers that are already working anyway can just do so under normal conditions." 

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