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The Wānaka chamber of commerce said Easter trading rules are crazy and need to change, after two local supermarkets broke the law to stay open during the region's busiest weekend of the year.
Thanks to the long weekend and Warbirds over Wānaka the area was heaving with visitors.
New World Wānaka and New World Three parks opened as usual on Friday and Sunday, even though they don't have an exemption or essential store status.
The stores have been fined before for breaching the Shop trading Hours Act.
Parent company foodstuffs said while Wānaka is part of the Queenstown Lakes District Council and Queenstown has an exemption to trade over Easter; Wānaka is not included.
Glenn Peat, the Wanaka chamber of commerce's general manager speaks to Lisa Owen.