I have read on websites and seen in the news that retailers are allowed to open in certain parts of the country but not others on good friday and easter sunday.

only 25% of people according to a colmar brunton poll plan to go to church.

I think that the laws should be changed, I think it should be up to the individual retailer.

I think that shops should open because to not have them open is to allow the government control and it is a backwards law.

The law has many contradictions, as mentioned one of which is that certain retailers in certain areas can open. Those retailers in tourist towns can open, wouldn't Auckland be deemed a tourist town too?

Supermarkets are not allowed to open yet eatries, dairies, video stores and service stations are allowed to open. Supermarkets are a necessity in my opinion. You get food from them and food is a necessity.

I say the government should change the law, that the law breakers are exercising their rights.

You see one retailer argued that people's religious beliefs and the laws are infringing on his non religious beliefs and affecting him.

Businesses are also losing money as a result of these laws, a time when they would potentially earn more money than on a regular day, because people have nothing else to do, so they go shopping.

I agree. And to be honest, why would religious people care if the non religious didn't have a day off? If they want to observe the easter laws and not work/open their stores then that's fine. All power to them, but the non religious/non christian population shouldn't have to suffer because of it.

I'd be interested to hear the religious point of view on why the non religious should observe it.

I worked Friday and (will) work Sunday coz of the extra pay, where I work we have an emergency licence thing meaning we only can sell certain things that are vital

I worked Friday and it was fine. The most interesting thing though was that a whole lot of Baptist youths came into work stocking up on junkfood for the weekend because they're having some sort of camp out at Mystery Creek.

They obviously didn't have a problem with others opening their doors for trade during Easter.

where do you work and what items can you sell?

I just think it is time the government moved forward with the laws. People should be able to make individual choices for themselves.

Some fundamentalists would argue that if easter trading is allowed then so would christmas trading, that is the next logical step.

What exactly would be wrong with Christmas trading? It's just another day as well.

Christmas is a more special holiday and is the ony time that many people see their families.

If you have trading at Christmas then you take that away from people and eventually you also take away stat days (I mean this is ike 10 years down the track though).

Like easter, I think trading on Christmas should be a choice. Not something that should be enforced.

I see your point and I suppose that many people because of location do spend time away from their families anyway.

Also it isn't fair for the government to take away our rights when it isn't harming anyone.

$$$$

big shopping malls\supermarkets and major retailers i reckon shouldnt open (coz then alot of ppl have to work) small businesses can open if they want ( so they get some dayz in a year in which they can make some decent money + they can close up easily if the want to unlike major retailers)

The thing is it is a choice and you get time and a half so even if you do work you are gaining something out of it.

The problem I have with this law is that opening doesn't affect anyone in a negative way.

Not only that but if stores are unable to open then it takes away an income from those people and it takes away the choice. Aren't we supposed to be living in a democracy? making someone's decision for them is not very democratic.

Also there was a quote by Nandor Tanzcos on the xtra website, saying that the world doesn't stop if shops don't open. Well I am going to turn that quote around and say, the world doesn't stop just because it is a public holiday.

Buses still operate and they are NOT an essential service, nor are cinemas, nor are video stores. If these non essnetial services and shops can open, then the average shop should be able to open too if they wish.

buses: i aint gonna pay $25 to get to town in a taxi when i can get there in $3.60 on a bus


crap i forgot what i was gonna say..........

and there's no delete post button?

well I'll be waiting for when you do remember but I am assuming it was something along the lines of something to do with choice or something to do with money or something.

That was a really bad sentence of mine.

This post is for the benefit of some users who are a little unsure of what was meant by my statement " the majority of new zealanders are not christians so therefore shops should be allowed to open".

I will explain in this post now.

Easter is Christian holiday so what I am saying is that if you are not a christian the holiday is thus unpurposeful for you.

Shops also lose a certain portion of their revenue by being forced to shut.

I think the government should not control people in this way and it should be up to the owner whether or not they open.

regarding the fact that dairies, cinemas are open on easter, I believe in one rule for everyone and so because these businesses are allowed to operate so too should supermarkets and other businesses.