Easter Sunday trading decision set to be handed to councils despite opposition

TVNZ One News 12 May 2016
Family First Comment: The first hospital pass was Prostitution. Here’s another. The government needs to stop using local councils to make the tough decisions!

The aim is to get rid of anomalies that see places like Queenstown open for business but nearby Wanaka closed.
Parliament’s Commerce Committee is in deadlock over a bill to allow shops to open if councils decide they should.
A five-five vote on the bill means the Government has failed to pass the changes at select committee it wanted.
But Employment Relations Minister Michael Woodhouse will push through with the bill, and changes, despite that.
The bill will see councils develop local policies so businesses can open if the community wishes.
But Labour’s Iain Lees-Galloway says the minister is washing his hands of what is a contentious issue in Parliament by passing the buck on to councils.
Local Government New Zealand head Lawrence Yule says councils want to have the power to make their own decisions.
READ MORE: https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/easter-sunday-trading-decision-set-handed-councils-despite-opposition