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Source: ONE News -
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Good Friday is one of just a few days a year that shops must close under the Shop Trading Hours Act.
The Act restricts retail on Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Christmas Day and half of Anzac Day. However, some stores are happy to carry the cost of breaking the rules.
Wellington's Real Groovy store is just one of the public holiday non-believers.
"If people didn't want to shop here, then we wouldn't open, but it's humming in here," says Real Groovy's Pet Johnson.
"People want to buy CDs, people want to buy DVDs on a holiday."
There are some exceptions to the trading rules. Stores selling small quantities of essential items can remain open, as can pharmacies and those selling ready to eat foods. Souvenir and duty free stores are also exempt.
Businesses face a possible $1,000 fine for flouting the rules and Department of Labour inspectors have been doing the rounds.
Figures for the past six years show prosecutions peaking in 2005 at 98. Last year was well down on that figure, at 32.
Decisions on fines this year will be made when officials head back to work next week.
