Shoppers make most of day off

By Dean Austen

As central Auckland ground to a halt yesterday, the rest of the city - as it seems to have done throughout Apec - got on with its life.

In a tale of two cities, the outer suburbs were alive with people happily going about their business unimpeded by presidents, protests and police.

The combination of street and school closures, a day off for many city workers and predictions of traffic chaos was a boon for suburban malls.

Even the Auckland Museum - that trusty wet-day time-killer - was closed for the Apec leaders' retreat, making malls the popular choice for parents caught out by a day off school.

All schools in Auckland, Manukau and North Shore cities were given permission to close to help prevent traffic chaos.

Some, such as Rangitoto College and Westlake Girls on the North Shore, refused, considering they were too far out of the way of the Apec action.

Others, such as Gladstone Primary in Mt Albert, closed, but extended their before-school and after-school care.

"They should have Apec every day," said a smiling Struan Abernethy, Deka store manager in Lynnmall, standing in the toy department and surrounded by the buzz of family shoppers.

"It's the busiest Monday we've had for a long time."

Mother-of-three Helen Dennett was one of those shopping in the bustling West Auckland mall and said she had no intention of going anywhere near the city.

The Blockhouse Bay accounts manager had been forced to take a day off work to look after her children, aged 4 to 10, plus a neighbour's child, after their schools shut.

"It's a fun day off for them," she said, "but I think it's a bit strange how schools, particularly those out this way, have been closed down."