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what shops are open on waitangi day

Most shops in New Zealand can open on Waitangi Day, but hours and surcharges vary, so it’s smart to check specific stores in advance.

Are shops open on Waitangi Day?

  • Most shops, restaurants, cafés and other retail or hospitality venues are allowed to open as usual on Waitangi Day, and many do.
  • Supermarkets and shopping malls are generally open, sometimes with slightly shorter public‑holiday hours.
  • Individual businesses can still choose to close, so you’ll see a mix of “open as normal”, “public‑holiday hours”, and “closed” signs depending on the area.

Typical places that are open

  • Supermarkets and big‑box retailers (Countdown/Woolworths, New World, Pak’nSave, major chains) usually open with public‑holiday hours.
  • Shopping centres such as Westgate and Milford Centre explicitly advertise being open on Waitangi Day, often around 10:00–17:00, though each store can set its own hours.
  • Cafés, restaurants and takeaway outlets commonly trade, especially in busy city and tourist areas.
  • Many local Waitangi Day events also have food stalls and market‑style vendors operating alongside the celebrations.

Example

A shopping centre like Westgate in Auckland has promoted itself as open on Waitangi Day, with general hours such as 10:00–5:00 and a note that individual store hours may vary.

What might be closed or limited?

  • Some smaller, independent shops and professional services simply choose to close for the public holiday.
  • Banks and some offices often close or run reduced services on public holidays, so don’t rely on them being open.
  • A few specialty retailers or local operators may shut for the day but reopen with normal hours the following day; this can even vary within the same town.

Public holiday surcharges

  • Many hospitality businesses that open on Waitangi Day add a public‑holiday surcharge , often around 15%, to help cover higher wage costs.
  • If a business charges a surcharge, it must be clearly disclosed (e.g., on menus, signs, websites, or verbally before you order).
  • If you feel you were charged a surcharge without clear notice, you can complain to the Commerce Commission for misleading pricing.

How to plan your Waitangi Day shopping

  • Check Google Maps, store websites, or social media for “Waitangi Day hours” for any shop or mall you want to visit.
  • Assume big chains and malls will be open with public‑holiday hours, but smaller shops may close or open late.
  • If you are near official Waitangi or council‑run events, expect food stalls, market tents, and pop‑up vendors operating onsite.

TL;DR: For “what shops are open on Waitangi Day”: supermarkets, malls, and most hospitality and retail outlets are open on public‑holiday hours (often with a 15% surcharge in cafés and restaurants), but some smaller or independent shops, banks, and offices may close, so always check individual hours before you head out.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.