Comments on: Easter trading defeated (again)

By: prism

prism — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 20:30:05 +0000

Don’t knock families – without them where would we be? To make one takes a short time, to grow one takes a life time (and time is the important word here).

By: randal

randal — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 03:38:59 +0000

it is a vote for our national religion which is christianity.
not the wonky sort but the chrisitianity that has brought us here after 2,000 years and is far too precious to be given away to some crummy little retailers in a tourist trap because they have no spiritual values of their own.

By: Camden Whelk

Camden Whelk — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 03:16:31 +0000

So a vote against Easter Trading is a vote for Family Values.

By: toad

toad — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 01:32:44 +0000

Posted by Nat MP Katrina Shanks on The Blog That Shall Not Be Named:

I was one of the few National MPs who voted against the bill.

I did so for the following reasons. Family time is a precious commodity these days and continual pressure on retailers to open longer hours, has IMO already seriously eroded the time working parents can spend with their children.

As a mother of three young children myself and an MP, I am acutely aware of the stresses and strains that long working hours can have on family life.

There are currently only three and a half days when New Zealanders are unable to shop, Christmas Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Anzac Day morning. These days reflect the special character of our society. Ensuring that they remain “commerce free’ is I believe an important step in helping to strengthen family relationships.

I have had a number of emails to my office this morning thanking me for my “independence over this issue’ and for taking a “good sense and family-minded stance’

By the way I note that Ohariu’s Peter Dunne voted for Easter Sunday trading while Labour’s Charles Chauvel, also based in Ohariu voted for against it.

Guess that’s her chances of ever becoming a Minister down the gurgler – insufficient commitment to unrestrained capitalism.

[lprent: Why can't you name it? Kiwiblog has been a well-discussed issue here for a long time. He may spend a lot of time dog-whistling, being naive (especially when it is science or maths), and is frequently just boring (bloody holiday pix). But at least he doesn't just make crap up and try and pass it off as fact. ]

By: toad

toad — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 01:18:17 +0000

There one here already. All we need is an MP to sponsor it.

By: dave

dave — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:45:20 +0000

Toad, couldn’t agree more. Now, can you organise a members bill to that effect, I’;m too busy at the moment.

By: Lanthanide

Lanthanide — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:00:05 +0000

Someone posted in the Red Alert comments that lower-paid workers may actually want to work on the Easter days, so as to earn extra money.

I can see that sentiment, so I think a nice middle-ground could be struck – special status for Easter Friday/Sunday as being paid at 3x wages, + 1 day in lieu for those who work. Presently public holidays are just 1.5x wages + 1 day in lieu. This would mean then even if your boss did force you to work, at least you’d get some real benefit from it. It also means that the bosses can really reflect on what opening on these days really costs, and whether they think they can turn a profit while doing so.

By: Bored

Bored — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 23:55:50 +0000

“I also don’t buy the argument that because Taupo can open other centres should be allowed to open as well.”

Relax, geologically speaking this is a self correcting thing (every two thousand years or so).

By: randal

randal — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 23:52:30 +0000

hooray.
felt sorry for mclay having to put this lead balloon up.
like it or not we are a christian country and that means we observe the ancient rituals of our people to propitiate our gods.
being a pagan at heart but converted to christianity in another life I still need to look into the abyss of meaningless and justify my futile existence.
hehehehehehehe.

By: toad

toad — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 23:35:19 +0000

How about making Easter Sunday a public holiday so that workers who already are required to work it at least get a day in lieu to spend with their families.