Easter Sunday - it's one of just three-and-a-half days a year, along with Good Friday, Christmas Day, and half of Anzac Day, where trading is restricted.

It means unless a business meets specific criteria, it is not going to open its doors.

Some shops are allowed to open throughout the weekend, while others can only operate on Easter Sunday but not Friday.

The rules depend on where you are in New Zealand.

So, if you find yourself wondering every year what is open on Easter weekend, you're not alone.

While petrol stations, dairies, cafes, and restaurants can open on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, supermarkets and department stores cannot.

Among the few exemptions to the rule are garden centres. Under a 2001 amendment to the Shop Trading Hours Act, they could open on Easter Sunday, but not Good Friday.

Here's what can open on both Good Friday and Easter Sunday:

• Petrol stations
• Dairies
• Greengrocers (Roberts Family country store is open)
• Cafes (Recharge in Clyde is open)
• Restaurants (Chatto Creek will be open, and doing an Easter egg hunt!)
• Takeaways
• Shops providing services like hairdressers
• Real estate agencies
• Pharmacies
• Souvenir shops
• Some shops at exhibitions, shows, or markets

• Garden centres (only on Easter Sunday)

Hope this helps as you plan your weekend of activities. Stay on our Whats On guide for all things happening around Central and if you know of something happening and it's not listed - click here so we can list it!

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