It's the age old debate - should we or should we not let businesses open during Easter and Anzac day holidays.
Most people don't even have clarity on what the regulations are.
A bill focusing on the sale and supply of alcohol is hoping to make the law simpler and fairer for businesses and has passed it's first reading in Parliament.
Labour List MP Kieran McAnulty's leading the bill and he talks to Tim Beveridge.
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
You're listening to the Weekend Collective podcast from News talks'd.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Be yes indeed. And it's the age old debate should
we or should we not let businesses open during Easter
and Ansack Day holidays. Most people don't even have clarity
on what the regulations are from here to there. And
a bill led by Laboring P Kreen mcinnaughty is hoping
to make the law simpler and fairer for businesses and
has passed its first reading in Parliament. And Keran is
with me now, good afternoon, Gay, Hey you god good?
(00:31):
Andrew little ahead you vote?
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Wouldn't he one hundred percent? I've known him all my life.
Basically you're made on life anyway. And I can say,
hand on hard he's got the most integrity out of
many people I've met, So he's got my full sport.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Yeah. Hey, this conversation around easter trading feels so groundhog day,
doesn't it. We seem to talk about it all the time.
We didn't make a little tweak here, A little tweak
there is yours? Just a little tweak or what is it?
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Yeah, it is a little tweak. I mean it's all
it's focusing on, is those businesses that are already allowed
to open on those days. So we're talking about Good Friday, Easter, Sunday,
Christmas Day, in the morning of Anzac Day. I've seen
these debates happen, and they fall over when we start
to look at the trading laws and the retail and
all that sort of stuff. But most workers and He's
(01:17):
only only get a couple of guaranteed days office. Once
you start proposing to change that, it gets into a
much broader issue. I'm not interested in that. I wouldn't
support that, But what I do want to change are
these ridiculous laws where on three and a half days
of the year, the way that we sell and supply
alcohol in this country is dictated on rules that nobody
(01:40):
understands really why it seems like the only reason we've
done it is because we've always done it, and that
doesn't seem like a very good reason for me.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
One of the things that pops up when we're doing
talk back about Easter trading laws is, I mean, so
here we are focused on alcohol and there are a
lot of people who like to get out in the
garden and do it, are planting. They can't even go
to the garden center. Can't we look a little bit
wider on this stuff.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Well, these things have come up in Parliament many times
that have not got anywhere. And the reason I think
this has gone to Select Committee is because it's only
affecting those businesses that are already operating, and so anyone
that doesn't currently work on those days won't have to.
But those hospitality businesses and the workers that work in
(02:22):
them don't have to monitor whether somebody has had a
substantial meal within the last hour whether they are allowed
to sell them a pint. And it doesn't seem to
make sense to me that I went to the pub
on Thursday and bought a pint. The next day I couldn't.
If I went again on Saturday, I could have, and
today I can't. And then you ask why Now, If
(02:42):
the reason is because it's a religious day, well I'm
not sure we should be determining liquor laws on the
grounds of religion, particularly when you consider the majority of
Christian religions don't prohibit the consumption of alcohol on those days,
so that grounds doesn't really stack up. And here's the thing.
If people do wish not to partake on those days,
(03:04):
I respect that fully, but if a family wants to
go down to the pub as a family unit and
have a pint and a drink on Easter Sunday, why
shouldn't they. You know, the ridiculous thing is is that
you've got this really small window an hour before and
an hour after a meal. If anything, it encourages people
to drink more than they would have anyway because they've
(03:26):
only got a small little window and wish to do it.
We should just on those days, respects people's choices and
sell and supply alcohol on the normal rules that we
do for every other day of the year.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Well, though, to be fickle, if you were going to
go that want to go to the pub on Good Friday, Saturday,
Sunday and East Monday, you might have to have a
look at it some other issues in your life, I guess,
But well.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
It's to each person, right, and no one is judging anybody.
I mean, look, I went to mass this morning. I
do it every years to Sunday. But I also, you know,
yesterday I went to Lagrave Vineyard and white it up
and that was good as gold. But if I went
there today, I couldn't buy a bottle of wine unless
they bought a substantial meal, and you've just got to
ask yourselves, why is that just three and a half
(04:08):
days a year.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
Why just a trivial question. Do you have communion wine
when you go to church on Easter?
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Yeah? You do?
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Yep, Yeah, Well that must be an exception.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
I guess I, for one would presume. But the other
aspect of this bill too is that I don't think
RSA should have to get a special license to serve
veterans on Anziic day morning. I think that's rubbish, and
so my bill will tidy that up too.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
I guess that the only thing is with many political
arguments is always inconsistency. So you're arguing that because of
religion is telling us we can't drink, but we're still
settling for the fact that religion is telling us we
can't shop or go to the garden scend, aren't we.
So there's always this inconsistency. We're just picking this issue
to make it easy and get it through, are we.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
Well.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
I don't actually think religion is telling us this. We
just happened to have applied these things on Easter for
a reason back in the day that nobody seems to
be able to explain now, but you know, it's a
Christian holiday, and I totally respect there, But the majority
of Christian religions don't prohibit the consumption of our colomna
those days. None of them hibit the sale of goods
(05:12):
or show. That's right. But look at the end of
the day, if you're looking to change trading laws on Easter,
for example, you're also looking to change labor laws, and
that's a much bigger issue. All I want to focus
on is these bizarre rules that prevent businesses, particularly given
our alliance on tourism. And I tell you what, I've
(05:35):
had a number of businesses that I've never met before anything.
They're aware of the bills. I've emailed me today and
explained that they've had tourists come in and they just
want to have a drink, it's a lovely day or whatever.
But they say, no, you can't do that unless you buy,
say a roast meal, for example, and they think it's
bonkers and then they walk out, so they've lost a sale.
We're supposed to be trying to promote ourselves to the world.
(05:55):
We encourage people to come a long way to get here,
and on three and a half days of the year,
we've got these arcane rules that back home they don't
have to deal with.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Who's supporting it in Parliament or should I say, is
it easier to tell me who's voting against it?
Speaker 3 (06:10):
Well? Look at it passed with a slim majority, but
it passed with enough to get through and hopefully that
support will remain. There were a few MPs that didn't vote,
so I'm hoping that once they see the arguments for
then they will get behind it. A conscience vote, yeah,
generally any bill that involves alcohol is treated as a
(06:30):
conscience And do you know what, it was a really
respectful debate. There were people that reflected the views of
their communities that are strong Christian values and they don't
want to see those change. I don't agree with it,
but I respect it. And there are some people that
for whatever reason just want to leave things as they are.
Totally fine. But there was a majority of Labor MP's,
majority of National, all of Act One multi party MP
(06:53):
voted for it, All of the Greens and all of
New Zealand First voted against.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Really New Zealand First and the Greens against. Of course,
that's a strange bed fellow still on that one isn't it?
Speaker 3 (07:04):
Well, is never boring? No, but yeah, we're going is.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
We've got a reason. But that sounds mildly promising, and
I guess, look, I understand why you're keeping it so simple.
You'd you would be optimistic at the stage, wouldn't you.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Well, look, I think we've got to see what the
public have to say about it. I like to approach
politics of the pragmatic sense, and I've said to people, Look,
I think the majority of Kiwi's think that the rules
around Easter are hard to justify. I actually think the
vast majority of New Zealanders agree with my point about
RSA's and veterans on ends that day morning. Now, look,
(07:40):
if Kiwis are uncomfortable with this on Christmas Day, do
you know what, fine, I'll take it out. I don't care.
The whole point of getting this done is being pragmatic
and working with people, and that's what I've tried to do.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Excellent, Well, good luck with that. By the way, just
so we're clear, this is going to it's not gonna
be something that's going to reliant on councils. If you
get the villain and the way you want it, it's
going to be something that's across the country full stop.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
Correct if anything, that's going to say councils because they
won't have to do with anything. Good.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Good on you, Karen, really appreciate your time this afternoon. Thanks,
thanks very much.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
Thanks for the opportunity in hippy Easter, you too, mate.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
That's sth Karen mcinaughie label ASTMP.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
For more from the Weekend Collective, listen live to news
talks it'd be weekends from three pm, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Collective podcast from News talks'd.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Be yes indeed. And it's the age old debate should
we or should we not let businesses open during Easter
and Ansack Day holidays. Most people don't even have clarity
on what the regulations are from here to there. And
a bill led by Laboring P Kreen mcinnaughty is hoping
to make the law simpler and fairer for businesses and
has passed its first reading in Parliament. And Keran is
with me now, good afternoon, Gay, Hey you god good?
(00:31):
Andrew little ahead you vote?
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Wouldn't he one hundred percent? I've known him all my life.
Basically you're made on life anyway. And I can say,
hand on hard he's got the most integrity out of
many people I've met, So he's got my full sport.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Yeah. Hey, this conversation around easter trading feels so groundhog day,
doesn't it. We seem to talk about it all the time.
We didn't make a little tweak here, A little tweak
there is yours? Just a little tweak or what is it?
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Yeah, it is a little tweak. I mean it's all
it's focusing on, is those businesses that are already allowed
to open on those days. So we're talking about Good Friday, Easter, Sunday,
Christmas Day, in the morning of Anzac Day. I've seen
these debates happen, and they fall over when we start
to look at the trading laws and the retail and
all that sort of stuff. But most workers and He's
(01:17):
only only get a couple of guaranteed days office. Once
you start proposing to change that, it gets into a
much broader issue. I'm not interested in that. I wouldn't
support that, But what I do want to change are
these ridiculous laws where on three and a half days
of the year, the way that we sell and supply
alcohol in this country is dictated on rules that nobody
(01:40):
understands really why it seems like the only reason we've
done it is because we've always done it, and that
doesn't seem like a very good reason for me.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
One of the things that pops up when we're doing
talk back about Easter trading laws is, I mean, so
here we are focused on alcohol and there are a
lot of people who like to get out in the
garden and do it, are planting. They can't even go
to the garden center. Can't we look a little bit
wider on this stuff.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Well, these things have come up in Parliament many times
that have not got anywhere. And the reason I think
this has gone to Select Committee is because it's only
affecting those businesses that are already operating, and so anyone
that doesn't currently work on those days won't have to.
But those hospitality businesses and the workers that work in
(02:22):
them don't have to monitor whether somebody has had a
substantial meal within the last hour whether they are allowed
to sell them a pint. And it doesn't seem to
make sense to me that I went to the pub
on Thursday and bought a pint. The next day I couldn't.
If I went again on Saturday, I could have, and
today I can't. And then you ask why Now, If
(02:42):
the reason is because it's a religious day, well I'm
not sure we should be determining liquor laws on the
grounds of religion, particularly when you consider the majority of
Christian religions don't prohibit the consumption of alcohol on those days,
so that grounds doesn't really stack up. And here's the thing.
If people do wish not to partake on those days,
(03:04):
I respect that fully, but if a family wants to
go down to the pub as a family unit and
have a pint and a drink on Easter Sunday, why
shouldn't they. You know, the ridiculous thing is is that
you've got this really small window an hour before and
an hour after a meal. If anything, it encourages people
to drink more than they would have anyway because they've
(03:26):
only got a small little window and wish to do it.
We should just on those days, respects people's choices and
sell and supply alcohol on the normal rules that we
do for every other day of the year.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Well, though, to be fickle, if you were going to
go that want to go to the pub on Good Friday, Saturday,
Sunday and East Monday, you might have to have a
look at it some other issues in your life, I guess,
But well.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
It's to each person, right, and no one is judging anybody.
I mean, look, I went to mass this morning. I
do it every years to Sunday. But I also, you know,
yesterday I went to Lagrave Vineyard and white it up
and that was good as gold. But if I went
there today, I couldn't buy a bottle of wine unless
they bought a substantial meal, and you've just got to
ask yourselves, why is that just three and a half
(04:08):
days a year.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
Why just a trivial question. Do you have communion wine
when you go to church on Easter?
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Yeah? You do?
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Yep, Yeah, Well that must be an exception.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
I guess I, for one would presume. But the other
aspect of this bill too is that I don't think
RSA should have to get a special license to serve
veterans on Anziic day morning. I think that's rubbish, and
so my bill will tidy that up too.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
I guess that the only thing is with many political
arguments is always inconsistency. So you're arguing that because of
religion is telling us we can't drink, but we're still
settling for the fact that religion is telling us we
can't shop or go to the garden scend, aren't we.
So there's always this inconsistency. We're just picking this issue
to make it easy and get it through, are we.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
Well.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
I don't actually think religion is telling us this. We
just happened to have applied these things on Easter for
a reason back in the day that nobody seems to
be able to explain now, but you know, it's a
Christian holiday, and I totally respect there, But the majority
of Christian religions don't prohibit the consumption of our colomna
those days. None of them hibit the sale of goods
(05:12):
or show. That's right. But look at the end of
the day, if you're looking to change trading laws on Easter,
for example, you're also looking to change labor laws, and
that's a much bigger issue. All I want to focus
on is these bizarre rules that prevent businesses, particularly given
our alliance on tourism. And I tell you what, I've
(05:35):
had a number of businesses that I've never met before anything.
They're aware of the bills. I've emailed me today and
explained that they've had tourists come in and they just
want to have a drink, it's a lovely day or whatever.
But they say, no, you can't do that unless you buy,
say a roast meal, for example, and they think it's
bonkers and then they walk out, so they've lost a sale.
We're supposed to be trying to promote ourselves to the world.
(05:55):
We encourage people to come a long way to get here,
and on three and a half days of the year,
we've got these arcane rules that back home they don't
have to deal with.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Who's supporting it in Parliament or should I say, is
it easier to tell me who's voting against it?
Speaker 3 (06:10):
Well? Look at it passed with a slim majority, but
it passed with enough to get through and hopefully that
support will remain. There were a few MPs that didn't vote,
so I'm hoping that once they see the arguments for
then they will get behind it. A conscience vote, yeah,
generally any bill that involves alcohol is treated as a
(06:30):
conscience And do you know what, it was a really
respectful debate. There were people that reflected the views of
their communities that are strong Christian values and they don't
want to see those change. I don't agree with it,
but I respect it. And there are some people that
for whatever reason just want to leave things as they are.
Totally fine. But there was a majority of Labor MP's,
majority of National, all of Act One multi party MP
(06:53):
voted for it, All of the Greens and all of
New Zealand First voted against.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Really New Zealand First and the Greens against. Of course,
that's a strange bed fellow still on that one isn't it?
Speaker 3 (07:04):
Well, is never boring? No, but yeah, we're going is.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
We've got a reason. But that sounds mildly promising, and
I guess, look, I understand why you're keeping it so simple.
You'd you would be optimistic at the stage, wouldn't you.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Well, look, I think we've got to see what the
public have to say about it. I like to approach
politics of the pragmatic sense, and I've said to people, Look,
I think the majority of Kiwi's think that the rules
around Easter are hard to justify. I actually think the
vast majority of New Zealanders agree with my point about
RSA's and veterans on ends that day morning. Now, look,
(07:40):
if Kiwis are uncomfortable with this on Christmas Day, do
you know what, fine, I'll take it out. I don't care.
The whole point of getting this done is being pragmatic
and working with people, and that's what I've tried to do.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Excellent, Well, good luck with that. By the way, just
so we're clear, this is going to it's not gonna
be something that's going to reliant on councils. If you
get the villain and the way you want it, it's
going to be something that's across the country full stop.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
Correct if anything, that's going to say councils because they
won't have to do with anything. Good.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Good on you, Karen, really appreciate your time this afternoon. Thanks,
thanks very much.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
Thanks for the opportunity in hippy Easter, you too, mate.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
That's sth Karen mcinaughie label ASTMP.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
For more from the Weekend Collective, listen live to news
talks it'd be weekends from three pm, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio.
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