Leave Easter Trading rules alone you far right ghouls!
Easter trading restrictions frustrating – ACT
Easter trading restrictions are so yesterday according to ACT.
There is 3 and a half days each year where almost all shops have to close, ANZAC day until 1pm, Christmas Day, Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
There are Easter exemptions though; including for dairies, restaurants, petrol stations, markets and shops in tourist destinations like Taupo or Queenstown.
The law also allows all shop employees the right to refuse to work on Easter Sunday without needing to give their employer a reason.
ACT reckons the rules are frustrating and in some cases absurd, its MP Cameron Luxton has a private member bill to change that.
ACT will create a Holiday class of people who are wealthy enough to enjoy their Easter Holidays and a Hospitality Class forced to work to ensure the Holiday Class can get prompt service during their holiday.
Look, the moaning from retailers that they can’t open the cash registers and worship the consumer culture of consumption over Easter bores me immensely because I’ve always believed that public holidays should be mandatory.
It’s not that I really care about the death and supposed resurrection of Jesus Christ, (good luck to anyone who wants to take their moral compass from an invisible flying wizard who sends his only son off to get nailed to a cross by his own creations), it’s that I care deeply about the need for us all to put down tools as citizens on specific days and all of us venture out into our amazing public spaces and be friendly with one another.
The importance of our civility in public towards one another, the importance of being tolerant of each other while sharing the same space and the importance to actually stop working and enjoy doing nothing but spend time with our family, friends and whanau would do more to building that sense of nationhood than any amount of debate over changing the flag could ever achieve.
As citizens, we have earned the right to have days off, and we need to hold onto this right and understand it is the universal application that is so important. It’s the need to share our beaches and out door spaces together on these days that builds bonds between families and groups of people who would never otherwise meet in their busy 9-5, 5-9 lives.
For those public servants forced to work while the rest of us play, the media should be full of ‘spare a thought for’ type stories so that our public servants who must continue to staff essential services while the rest of us relax are given the respect and admiration they deserve for their selfless functions.
That sense of self identity and nationhood that we always whine about not being present during Waitangi Day takes effort and can’t simply be left up to the ‘free market’. The space where that national identity can take shape has to be universally applied in the form of mandatory public holidays and not left to be traded in by unscrupulous employers who if given half a chance would make ‘Hi Ho, hi ho, it’s off to work we go’ the new National anthem.
The thousands of different interactions generated by us all respectfully sharing the same space together on set days would do more for our understanding of each other than a million angry Talkback callers ever could.
What is the point of being a citizen in a democracy if we can’t enjoy the leisure of spending time outside in this glorious country?
Are we really all wage slaves?
Is that what a modern democracy has been denigrated too?
‘I-have-a-dream-to-work-every-hour-of-the-day-by-a-boss-who-is-screwing-me-over’ isn’t particularly inspirational is it?
Enjoy your time off this Easter – you deserve it and don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise!.
Leave Easter Trading rules alone you far right ghouls!
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Interesting that ACT has either had a go at or made noises about abolishing Labour Day, Good Friday and Easter Sunday, and fiercely opposed Matariki Day, but regards Anzac Day as sacrosanct. For ACT, imperial slaughter on a mass scale is to be celebrated, while the toils of labour and the sacrifice of the Christ are to be derided and dismissed.
So take another look Martyn. ACT knows who its enemies are: the working class and believers in the true gospel of Christ, who came and who gave his life for the sake of the toilers of the earth, the poor and the oppressed. Over the past century and more the working class have been grossly betrayed by the secular forces of Marxism and social democracy, and are left with nothing but their faith in God as their rock and promise of salvation. You should not mock a belief which you simply fail to understand. Read the Gospels and you will come to know Christ better. Not only that, you will be in a stronger position to effectively criticize those who succumb to heretical doctrines such as the so-called “prosperity theology”, and you will find friends among true believers who will be more loyal to the cause than the opportunists and self-seekers more commonly encountered within secular politics.
A holiday from work and a day off from being a consumerist, all good.
Let’s close the shops on Matariki, Waitangi Day and Labour Day too. Go out for a picnic instead. Lock the mall rats out of the trap.
And on the second day the people rose from prohibition and shopped with gay abandon for dry goods, toiletries and select meats for on the third day there was again prohibition.
Gosh one can see what really lights some people’s fuses – not suffering and difficulties of other people, it’s a case where something is being taken away from some, and given to everybody. It will be hard to go without some things on holidays but we used to have controls and amongst the benefits was a weekend to be together and do social things together – largely taken away. Now Neighbourly is a program sold by the paper that is connected with business. Not bad but with a commercial slant. It is interesting how people start bickering over a day’s holiday for most and possibly overtime pay for those that work.
Devious humans again? Luxton of ACT – is he possibly being groomed to step into National’s Luxon’s shoes, when he gets afflicted by Todd Muller anxieties. This would be likely for a man or person with a semblance of values and belief in serving the country. Does that describe Luxon? He is supposed to be religious true – but religion is being embraced more because it gives the person the opportunity to emerge from a fog of incense smoke which makes everyone’s eyes water and flourish their handkerchiefs. Or if there are complaints it might be the police chief checking on whether unauthorised tear gas is being used.
But never mind if National can’t hack it, it looks as if ACT is breeding a Luxon replacement, and if he just gets a skinhead non-haircut he will also look similar. And he is white, or fancifully called pakeha in NZ but international advisors can accommodate all ethnic styles.
TBH I dont think you have to be Christian or anything to appreciate the atmosphere of everything being closed down.
Spot on Millsy!
I have been on many union pickets over the years supporting low paid service and retail workers–and the common refrain from those that want to force their way through–usually from the protection of a motor vehicle–is this…“it is my right to shop or stuff my face!”…
Luxton would be the kind of boss who messes up every workers normal roster to ensure he has to give as few days in lieu as possible.
I’d like religious anniversaries stripped of public holiday status and secular holidays created to replace them.
The state should play no role in promoting religion.
It might also be advantageous to re distribute the national and regional holiday calendars to more evenly spread their dates and to create a mid winter break.
Is that you, Jacinda ?
Why do you ask, has she expressed similar sensible proposals?
It is the values which Christian-based holidays represent that are important, and many politicians would agree with you about dumping them. Decent people may think somewhat differently.
What are you going to replace the death of Jesus Christ with, a secular deity/ideologue you can worship?
Good point I would rather stick to the present deities and try to adjust our own ideas about them.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
1 Corinthians 13:13
We need some moral beliefs – restore religion to its belief in goodness and love – and add sharing and generosity. Because the greatest of these I think is sharing and love. and wait a minute also practical help.
And one can keep on making additions to what we need for religion.
Not The Spanish Inquisition – A Pythonique look.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqreRufrkxM
But if we keep a sense of humour we may be able to dissolve in laughter and annoyance and proclaim that the situation is ridiculous and deal reasonably (ie using reason trained under a fair and humane moral code), with bad behaviour that breaks bounds. instead of being so harsh and rigid that we burn people at the stake. I consider that this new ‘religion’ of electronics and AI and speed and efficiency, will start punishing transgressors severely and religion will become a tool of the authorities as has so often been the case. Assange’s treatment I think, and Indian against minority religions, also not forgetting the Protestant treatment of Jews in WW2!
Why should we care any more about a buybull quote than we would if you had quoted Bilbo Baggins?
Morality is not dependent on religion. Those who have to look to a dusty book for their morals and ethics are those the least worthy of trust.
Dusty book irrelevant. The message of the Sermon on the Mount is the message of all the great world religions, and it certainly predates Christianity. Doing into others as you would have them do unto you can hardly be described as immoral or unethical, unless perhaps you’re a Campbell from Glen Coe or a New Zealand politician.
Science, and social progress. Something you clearly hate.
Maybe go read some about the most written man In the history of time, this weekend, you won’t worry about shops, might actually put A smile on your dial
Maybe you should read some about the most written about man in the history of time, this weekend. You won’t worry about shops and it might put a smile on your dial.
“What are you going to replace the death of Jesus Christ with, a secular deity/ideologue you can worship?”
Why does it have to be some other nonexistent/make-believe creature?
So, the answer to your question is: no deity at all.
Just a plain simple holiday. Call it mid year, or if not at that date, name it after the month in which it falls.
Replacements: Probably David Seymour twerking with stars, Paula B adulating about Bill English’s boyish little brain, Hosking being Hosking, Roger Douglas starting the downfall, Jenny Shipley with whom Bill Clinton didn’t have sex, John Key master of ponytails, Ruth Richardson pugilist,Rob Muldoon pugilist, Shaneel L Kiwibank NZ’er of the Year, Sir Trevor Mallard creator of rivers of filth, Sepuloni shafter of the Commissioner for Children, that sailor chappie who hates marine life, rich political donors, loud painted ladies of the National Party, a few gender bender Greens. The list is endless.
So why not Christmas Day and Anzac day, why has he stopped here.
Bloody disgusting every bit of it.
Give him time…
Michal “ Why has he stopped here?” They’ve only just begun. Seymour has already tried to cancel New Year-associated public holidays. These sociopathic barbarians will likely attack Anzac Day next. That happens from time to time.
Where did ACT find that Luxton person? He looks like Chris Luxon, and is behaving just as badly. First time ever I saw his face, I thought that he must be a joke. I was right.
ACT’s highest priority besides protecting nonces, imposing an India-style labour market.
India style? Would have rather said US style. Next you will be comparing us with Pakistan style.
What they need to do is get rid of the stupid ‘no drink unless you order food’ rubbish.
Every time I think that the coalition government can’t go any lower, they do. Soon they will be swimming in Wellington’s broken sewers.
Workers deserve public holidays, but so too does Easter, a western Christian celebration, warrant recognition as part of an historical warp and woof which binds.
I prefer not to have motor mowers and power tools disturbing the peace on Good Friday, signalling to my Muslim neighbours, that we have shrugged off time-honoured values, along with so many other values. Politicians need to keep their greedy hands off traditions which have evolved over long periods of time. It’s not a big ask.
Of course the business class running government on behalf of the donor class want trading on all public holidays. Won’t someone think of the $$$
As usual it’s low paid store workers who will have to give up the most to satisfy those who aren’t forced to sacrifice their holidays or catch ups with family and friends.
If only I shat diamonds and doubloons.
Fuck off telling everyone what to do you lefty commie wanker!
So that means the last National Act mob under Key was communist?
Is that you, Brooke van Velden?
Lighten up you rightwing neoliberalist nut sack.
Fuck me there are 362 days the shops are oen if you cant plan your shopping on those days you are a fuck wit
Nailed it.
Correct. Ergo Cameron Luxton is a fuck wit.
Agreed Gordon,
Most of us don’t realise that Councils make the rules on Easter trading and have done since 2019 I think.
So this guy Luxton needs to shout at the council’s instead of inferring the law needs to be changed.
Notice he didn’t suggest Anzac or Christmas should be open slather. Thats obviously a step to far.