Funeral services won't happen for at least (4) four weeks
Even family will not be able to attend funeral services under the country's level four lock-down, the Funeral Directors Association of New Zealand says. Gary Taylor, the association's president, said he got confirmation today from the Ministry of Health that nobody would be able to attend funeral services or burials. "Prior to that they had told us there could be gatherings, but that's been reeled back now - there are no funeral services. "That has a huge implication for families going forward. The very act of gathering together and providing support to each other is really important to a family's mental wellbeing, as they process what has happened to them. "As much as we are absolutely behind the Government's restrictions and we understand what they are for, it does mean that families are going to suffer."
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There are about 90 deaths every day in New Zealand.
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The restrictions will impact cultural and religious practices. For example, according to Islamic law a person should be buried as soon as possible from the time of death. Taylor, who runs a funeral service in Northland, said some funerals would already be planned for the coming days and funeral directors would have to work their way through that with families. There were options for grieving families, including holding a memorial service once the lockdown ends, hopefully in four weeks.
"Potentially with modern embalming the deceased could even be kept at our premises for that period of time, if that's what the family wanted. Or, cremated and buried and then the memorial service to take place once these restrictions are relaxed a bit." Livestreaming services has become more common but wouldn't really be an option - only a celebrant or minister could attend in person, and as such watching from isolation at home wouldn't give much sense of togetherness. The extraordinary Covid-19 restrictions could well mean that people die alone and are buried or cremated alone. "The word sad doesn't adequately express the awful situation that would be, for that individual and those people that would have been part of acknowledging their life. That is so important to us as human beings, to be able to grieve correctly and properly ... we are going to have a lot of families in the future who have unresolved issues around the death of their loved one." Under level four lockdown the transfer of bodies from hospitals, hospice or homes would still take place, and funeral service staff would wear personal protective equipment. However, Taylor said that gear was running desperately low, and his association had asked the Ministry of Health to help secure new supplies. There was a low risk of transmission from a deceased person, but caution was still needed.
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Poll: Is it ok to regift something that you have been given?
🎁 Holiday Gift Chat!
Do you ever regift?
What’s your take on asking for a receipt if a gift doesn’t fit?
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79.7% Yes! It's better to regift what I don't need
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20.3% No. It's the thought and effort that matters
Meri Kirihimete:----- Here's wishing all Christians a very MERRY CHRISTMAS
Wishing you a Christmas filled with light, laughter, and the kind of friendly conversation that makes our neighborhood feel welcoming, connected, and full of goodwill all season long.
May your festive season be peaceful, joyful, and rich with shared smiles, thoughtful gestures, and moments that remind us why community and connection matter so much.
Sending heartfelt greetings that celebrate the warmth of our neighborhood, encouraging shared laughter, cooperative spirit, and the joy of being part of a caring community.
Wishing you a Christmas where every door opened brings laughter, every conversation inspires friendship, and every small act of kindness reflects the true meaning of the season.
May this holiday season fill our neighborhood with light, love, and harmony, creating memories that bring everyone closer and strengthen bonds that last well beyond the festive period.
Sending greetings that reflect gratitude for your presence, friendship, and the support you offer, making our corner of New Zealand feel like home during Christmas.
Wishing you a festive season full of community celebrations, cheerful greetings, and shared moments that strengthen the connection we enjoy as neighbors.
May our streets be brighter with laughter, our gardens warmer with friendship, and our gatherings filled with memorable festive moments that bring joy to every household.
Sending heartfelt wishes that even in the busiest moments, we pause to appreciate one another, fostering goodwill, understanding, and a sense of shared joy during the holidays.
Wishing you Christmas mornings full of cheerful greetings, afternoons filled with kind interactions, and evenings that reflect the harmony and warmth of our neighborhood
May the spirit of Christmas inspire generosity, smiles, and memorable connections that remind us of the true value of community and companionship.
Sending you long, thoughtful messages of gratitude and goodwill, wishing every festive activity brings happiness and shared enjoyment.
Wishing for moments of neighborly cooperation, laughter, and support that enhance our holiday celebrations and create lasting festive memories.
May this season bring a sense of belonging, connection, and appreciation for every individual who contributes to the vibrancy and warmth of our neighborhood.
Sending wishes for shared joy, memorable interactions, and meaningful moments that make our community stronger and more cheerful this Christmas.
Wishing you celebrations where everyone feels valued, appreciated, and included, reflecting the essence of kindness and togetherness this festive season.
May our neighborhood be a space of warmth, smiles, and shared experiences that elevate the Christmas spirit for everyone living here.
Sending greetings that celebrate friendship, community spirit, and thoughtful gestures, leaving lasting impressions on every neighbor we encounter.
Wishing you holidays where communication, kindness, and shared laughter make our community stronger and more connected than ever.
May every Christmas greeting, conversation, and shared moment enrich our neighborhood, fostering joy, trust, and long-lasting relationships.
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Christmas Eve busiest shopping day of the year with more than 500,000 sales
Busiest shopping day of the year
Peak time 12 noon-1 pm - 563,303 transactions
Per second peak - 167 transactions
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Number of sales beats Black Friday, but lowest Christmas Eve in six years
Christmas Eve has been the busiest shopping day of the year with 9,745 sales a minute at its peak.
Payments company Worldline says noon to 1pm saw 563,303 sales recorded on its network, down by about 7 percent on a year ago.
The company's network covers about three-quarters of the electronic terminals in operation.
Worldline did not have a dollar value for spending, but the peak number of transactions was the lowest for the past six years and well shy of the record 679,436 in 2019, before the pandemic.
Earlier this month it noted rising sales in the first three weeks of the month, but they remained 1.3 percent lower than 2024, with most parts of the country trailing the previous year's spending.
Official data from Stats NZ to the end of November showed a small rise in spending on the previous month, to 1.6 percent higher for the year.
Retail spending has been subdued as households have remained cautious because of high prices and a slow benefit from lower interest rates, and as well as concerns about the soft labour market.
However, recent surveys have shown improving consumer sentiment with ANZ bank's monthly report showing confidence at its highest level in four years.
Boxing Day is traditionally the country's favourite shopping day, but with Black Friday spending also softer this year the amount going through retailers' terminals may also be down on a year ago.
Adding a dampener to consumer spending may be the recent rises in longer term fixed mortgage rates because of higher wholesale rates.
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