Many councils are unlikely to set new laws allowing local shops to open on Easter Sunday in time for next year.
Photo: Supplied
The Shop Trading Hours Amendment Act, which passed in August, gave councils the power to allow shops to open on Easter Sunday.
But Local Government New Zealand president Lawrence Yule said many councils planned to pass on the opportunity for next year, as it was not a priority.
"Most of these decisions will be made next year and won't actually come into place until 2018, unless there has been a definite programme of work up until now to get it done for 2017."
Queenstown Lakes and Rotorua Lakes district councils were among those who were planning to push ahead with Easter Sunday trading.