New Zealand’s Catholic Bishops are disappointed that workers’ family time is under threat in the Shop Trading Hours Amendment Bill. MPs have voted 75 to 45 in favour of the bill, moving it to the Commerce Committee for consideration. “We are disappointed that the vote in favour of sending the Shop Trading Hours Amendment Bill Read more
“We know from long experience how precious our few remaining shop-free days are for families and communities,” says Caritas Director Julianne Hickey. She was responding to the announcement by the Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Woodhouse that The Government will change “arbitrary” national Easter Sunday trading restrictions and put the onus on local councils Read more
Irishman David Quinn says the Irish have become intolerant about public manifestations of religion. But, he says, “We really shouldn’t complain too loudly. In New Zealand they have it much worse, if that’s the word.” “I was in New Zealand on Good Friday three years ago visiting a family member, and on Good Friday no Read more
The Easter trading laws aren’t working and need an overhaul, Prime Minister John Key says. “I don’t think the law is working terribly well, but I’ve always voted in favour of liberalisation of trading laws when it comes to Easter weekend,” Key said. The Retailers Association has suggested that shops should be allowed to open Read more
New Zealand is now a secular, pluralist country with citizens who hold all kinds of views. Many people worship Jesus Christ, and practise restraint at Easter time as part of their beliefs. Many more do not. Christianity still has a powerful place in the culture – it underpins our ethics and our judicial system, much of Read more
This Easter the Greens and Labour parties and a 11,00 strong union have called for businesses to respect Easter trading laws. FIRST Union retail secretary Maxine Gay said retailers who opened on Good Friday were being “greedy”, with little regard for workers’ and families’ need. “Retail workers have among the fewest rights in the country Read more
The Government has announced it will ease back on the enforcing of the Easter trading laws. Active monitoring of Easter trading law breaches may be scrapped in favour of giving labour inspectors more time to investigate migrant worker exploitation. Labour Minister Simon Bridges has signalled that in the future officials may rely solely on complaints because Read more
John Key says the nine National party MPs who are not in favour of changing the rules around Easter trading “were mostly of a Catholic persuasion and didn’t support Easter trading on religious grounds,” which Key said he respects. However he wants the rules changed and he says it is a conscience vote and people need to vote Read more