Dunedin bars granted special licences for Ed Sheeran Easter gigs

Saturday, 10 February 2018

Dunedin's bars will be open for business on Easter's sacrosanct days, as authorities clear the way for pop superstar Ed Sheeran's presence in the city.

Dunedin bar owners are toasting moves allowing them to serve booze to Ed Sheeran fans at Easter.

The city council voted in December to allow shops to trade on the prominent religious holiday, coinciding with the British pop star's three concerts in the city, but has since gone a step further by granting 10 special licences for pubs. Another 10 are expected to be granted.

About 120,000 people – the same population as Dunedin – are expected to see Sheeran perform at Forsyth Barr Stadium across the three shows on March 29 and 31, and April 1.

Pubs with special licences will be able to open until 2.30am on Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

Jill Bint, of First Union, and Dunedin City councillor Andrew Whiley speak after the council voted to relax Easter Sunday trading rules.

Hospitality New Zealand Otago president Mark Scully said it was a good result after his organisation worked closely with the council and police on the issue.

'It would have been a disaster for the town to close at midnight when the concert will probably go to 11pm.

'By the time [fans] made their way from the stadium back into town, it would have been nearly time to close, so the extra hour or two will be great.'

He did not believe the granting the licences was a given after the council had amended its Easter trading rules for retail, and only a small number of bars had applied for an extension. Some would wait to see if there was demand before remaining open.

The move was supported by moteliers also, Scully said.

'They didn't want people going back to the motels and partying at midnight. They wanted [customers] to be able to go to licensed premises so they could drift back to their motels in an orderly fashion and not annoy those who are elderly or perhaps have children.

'I think everyone's taken a fairly pragmatic approach to it.'

The council's Easter trading policy attracted fierce opposition and, of the 181 submission received, 54 per cent favoured the status quo of not allowing most shops to open, while 44 per cent did want shops to be able to open.

First Union's Jill Bint said in December she was 'bitterly disappointed' by the move and unions would put pressure on central Government over the decision.

It was a concern workers had lost a holiday and would not be entitled to time-and-a-half and a day in lieu as Easter Sunday was not a public holiday.

Mayor Dave Cull could not be reached for comment on Saturday, but said when the vote passed 10-5, it was an 'exceedingly difficult call to make'.

He warned employers would be 'put on notice' if they abused their position to cash-in at the expense of their workers.