Letters: Easter trading at odds with Bible teaching

A reader takes issue with the fact shops might be open next Easter Sunday. Photo/File

In the Rotorua Daily Post editorial November 2 you say that Easter trading in Rotorua is a "done deal" because even the churches are "not opposing" it.

I saw only St Luke's Anglican Church identified as supporting this statement but other religious leaders were said to have "acknowledged the benefits".

Does this actually mean Rotorua's Christians support Easter Sunday trading?

If so, I think their position is contradictory to what the Bible teaches about loving God first and the Sabbath. This position seems also to be complicit with structural evil as it inherently capitulates to today's neo-liberal, money-focused economics which contributes to inequality, poverty and homelessness.

Easter is the central holiday (holy day) in Christianity because it celebrates the central events of the faith - the death and resurrection of Jesus.

I therefore think when any church fails to strongly advocate for celebrating the significance of this good news it is not only failing in its primary mission but also failing to support people's prosperity and rights.

On this basis, I in no way support selling out the holy day that celebrates the resurrection of Christ, which in my view is by far the most important and amazing event in human history. [Abridged]

BOB BOARDMAN
Ngongotaha

Views on levy encouraging

It is very encouraging to read New Zealand First MP Fletcher Tabuteau's article.

I have been in the tourism industry for 20 years and have been wondering why we don't charge a tourist levy.

When we have nearly four million tourists visiting annually, it is predictable that the cost of environmental maintenance will be much higher than what we can cope with. The Tongariro crossing is one example, with the need to put in extra toilets and employ more regular DOC staff.

Who is going to pay for it ? We are.

In Rotorua it is the same with local residents bearing all the costs. If we had a local tourist levy this could provide funding for the reinstatement of our closed museum, upgrading of our airport or be used to pay off our debt and finance the revitalisation of our CBD.

After all, it is our responsibility to look after our national assets and we need to think about how to generate the funds to preserve and enhance these assets in the long term.

WAITSU WU
Western Heights