Christchurch bars raise a glass as ‘archaic’ holiday liquor laws wiped - just in time for Easter and stadium opening

Thursday, 2 April 2026

Christchurch bartenders are pouring freely, staying open late and retiring their most hated script — “sorry, you’ll need to order a meal with that” — after decades of archaic holiday liquor laws were scrapped.

The change, which came into effect on Thursday, means venues can now serve alcohol on Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Anzac Day morning and Christmas Day without requiring customers to order a meal — and stay open during their normal trading hours on the night before a restricted trading day.

But while many in the hospitality industry are rejoicing, not everyone is raising a glass.

Stadium opening saved by the bell

For local hospitality, it’s a result years in the making. Hospitality New Zealand Canterbury branch president Jeremy Stevens had been one of the loudest voices pushing for change — particularly after realising One New Zealand Stadium’s opening night on April 24 would have seen bars forced to shut at midnight, with no alcohol to be served before 1pm on Anzac Day without a meal.

“It’s a big relief,” Stevens said. “Similar bills have been put forward in the past and all [have] been shut down. The fear was this would shut down too, and it could be years before we saw it again.”

An amendment from ACT MP Cameron Luxton ensures venues can also remain open during their normal trading hours on the night before a holiday — directly addressing the midnight closure that had threatened One New Zealand Stadium April 24 opening night.

“Taxpayers and Christchurch ratepayers have invested hundreds of millions of dollars into this stadium, in part to drive economic activity and showcase the city,” said Luxton.

“It would have made no sense to undermine that opportunity during the opening weekend, when 10 Super Rugby teams and tens of thousands of supporters will be in town, simply because the day after opening falls on Anzac Day.”

Mason Lattimore, manager at The Loft and Kaiser Brew Garden in central Christchurch, said the old rules had been a recurring headache — not just for owners, but for the staff who had to enforce them.

“It’s absolutely positive for the city, I see no downside at all.”

“You’d whack your head against the wall every year. People come over to New Zealand and just want to go for a pint. The laws are absolute confusion — it’s not nice for them, and it's not nice for staff to have to explain it.”

He said arguments over what counted as a substantial meal were a constant frustration on both sides of the bar.

“People try to get away with things, there’s no definition — ‘can I have a bowl of chips?’ It goes back and forward.”

Linda Ford, co-owner of Greta Valley Tavern in North Canterbury, said she was “absolutely thrilled”.

“It makes for a much easier service and we can concentrate on responsible hosting like you normally do, but it takes away that pressure.”

There would be no more “cranky” customers complaining about having to buy a meal, or being told it was “time for you to go” when the clock ticked over to the public holiday.

Too little, too late

For Michelle Cattell, owner of The Miller Bar in Addington, the news came too late. She had already closed the bar for Good Friday and Easter Sunday and given staff the days off, with no extra stock or security organised.

“The law change is great, but it's a shame they left it so late,” she said.

Cattell had shut every Easter for 12 years, as she was uncomfortable serving patrons who came in without wanting to eat, she said. Next year, she planned to open, and said her staff wouldn’t mind as they were paid time and a half and got a day in lieu.

‘No one’s asked us’

Unite Union assistant national secretary Gerard Hehir said the bill was another erosion of the few days hospitality workers could count on having off and workers had not been consulted during its passage through Parliament.

“The roster can literally come out the week before. A manager could say ‘I know you’re planning to have Easter with your family — but actually no, now we’ve decided to open, and that’s it’.”

He said the change would push more venues to open on days they previously wouldn’t have.

“This isn’t about demand from consumers to drink a few extra hours. This is about businesses wanting to maximise the money they can make.”

Both Stevens and Lattimore said their staff had the choice, and all of them were comfortable working the extra hours, with the extra pay and lieu day.

Stevens said the city was ready for the thousands of visitors descending on Christchurch for the Super Rugby Round across Anzac weekend.

“It’s a relief for Christchurch — and now we can concentrate on showing the city off.”