A week is a long time in politics. Last week Kāpiti Mayor K Gurunathan was sounding like some Old Testament prophet of doom and a week later the message seems to have softened considerably.
The issue came into sharp focus when Kāpiti Mayor Gurunathan announced on Thursday that Council had voted to allow Easter Sunday trading.
The decision follows the Strategy and Policy Committee’s recommendation at its 23 November meeting that the Council should allow Easter Sunday trading.
Mayor Gurunathan says the decision to adopt a policy that will allow businesses on the Kāpiti Coast to trade on Easter Sunday comes after much thoughtful deliberation.
Last week the mayor said the must-have mania called shopping is an addictive ritual and the shopping malls are the new temples erected to the God of mammon a religion based not on need but desire. On that basis he said it can be argued that those who support Easter Sunday trading are foisting their religious beliefs on others.
He now says some very strong views for and against opening businesses on Easter Sunday were heard, and not all businesses will want to open on Easter Sunday and not everyone will want to shop, but for those that do they now have the choice.
All councillors voted in favour except Cr Jackie Elliott and Cr James Cootes who voted against. The mayor abstained.
