Shops closed for Easter - isn't it long overdue a change?

Forums › Off topic › Shops closed for Easter - isn't it long overdue a change?

openmedia

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#324343 30-Mar-2026 15:00

Whilst like many others I do enjoy the long weekend that Easter provides, I simply don't understand why we have the massive retail shutdown on Good Friday and Easter Sunday. I'm sure I'm not alone in often using the long break to carry out a bunch of maintenance and renovations, and it isn't always possible to have everything I need ahead of the Friday shutdown.

There is also the secondary issue that Easter Sunday isn't a public Holiday, just a special restricted trading day, so the normal public holiday surcharges don't apply.

Please don't come back with a religious response - Religion in New Zealand is diverse. The country has no state religion and freedom of religion has been protected since the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. I'm firmly with the 50% of kiwis with no religion.

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#3475610 30-Mar-2026 15:03

So how many days a week do you work? ; ).

openmedia

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#3475615 30-Mar-2026 15:15

gzt: So how many days a week do you work? ; ).

Officially 5 - in reality 7

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#3475618 30-Mar-2026 15:18

Don't visit the shops then others might like the OT

Qazzy03

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#3475621 30-Mar-2026 15:20

openmedia:

I'm sure I'm not alone in often using the long break to carry out a bunch of maintenance and renovations, and it isn't always possible to have everything I need ahead of the Friday shutdown.

That sounds like a you problem, sir.

openmedia

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#3475623 30-Mar-2026 15:22

Qazzy03:

That sounds like a you problem, sir.

My problem is I don't see the need for religious holidays at all here in NZ. Provide them as public holidays, but remove the religious connection and make them optional.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

SaltyNZ

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#3475626 30-Mar-2026 15:29

I tend to agree - remove legal restrictions on all public holidays. There's nothing preventing individual shop owners from closing on any day of the year for any reason, religious or otherwise. I would simply add that if they want to stay open on any public holiday then they should be obliged to pay penalty rates to staff. We in turn as customers can then expect to pay for that (without moaning about it) as surcharges.

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Lias

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#3475631 30-Mar-2026 15:36

I think we need to scrap the entire concept of public holidays.. just get rid of them all and increase everyone's annual leave by the same amount. Having everyone forced to take a holiday on the same day and effectively shutting the country down is just nuts in our always on 24x7x365 world.

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cddt

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#3475632 30-Mar-2026 15:37

openmedia:

My problem is I don't see the need for religious holidays at all here in NZ. Provide them as public holidays, but remove the religious connection and make them optional.

And if an employee's religion requires observance twice a year on a particular day... ?

Qazzy03

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#3475634 30-Mar-2026 15:40

openmedia:

My problem is I don't see the need for religious holidays at all here in NZ. Provide them as public holidays, but remove the religious connection and make them optional.

Sir, this is Wendy's (GZ).
There is a person that that is responsible to listening to this sort of problem of yours.
They are called your local MP, please contact them.
I have attached a link to https://www3.parliament.nz/en/get-involved/have-your-say/contact-an-mp

You can even start a petition :)
https://petitions.parliament.nz/?lang=en

MaxineN

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#3475635 30-Mar-2026 15:41

Lias:

I think we need to scrap the entire concept of public holidays.. just get rid of them all and increase everyone's annual leave by the same amount. Having everyone forced to take a holiday on the same day and effectively shutting the country down is just nuts in our always on 24x7x365 world.

The entire country doesn't shut down though.

Essential services are still open.

You can still fly on a public holiday.

If you can't plan around a day off then the onus is on you.

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gzt

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#3475636 30-Mar-2026 15:41

Lias: I think we need to scrap the entire concept of public holidays.. just get rid of them all and increase everyone's annual leave by the same amount. Having everyone forced to take a holiday on the same day and effectively shutting the country down is just nuts in our always on 24x7x365 world.

My view is the always on 24x7x365 world is in fact nuts, and there should be compulsory breaks from it, perhaps every seven days.

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#3475653 30-Mar-2026 15:45

cddt:

And if an employee's religion requires observance twice a year on a particular day... ?

That's a them problem. No idea why one entertainment activity should get preference over another if I want to go and see a concert or whatever on a certain day, I apply for the time off and hope that there is cover to allow for it.

Richard rich.ms

Behodar

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#3475655 30-Mar-2026 15:46

Having a few days each year that almost everyone can plan around is, in my view, a good thing. Unless you work for an essential service, you can be assured of a day to yourself without a manager going "um, I know you asked for Good Friday off, but I need someone here because...".

nitro

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#3475657 30-Mar-2026 15:49

Lias:

Having everyone forced to take a holiday on the same day and effectively shutting the country down is just nuts in our always on 24x7x365 world.

when managing teams of people, it helps to have (most of) them sync their time off around public holidays.

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#3475658 30-Mar-2026 15:51

I am not religious in any way, shape or form but this is part of our NZ history, most of our laws come from England, and most of their laws were created by the church.

For only 3 1/2 days per year, I am ok with that.

John

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