I’m curious about these New Zealand workers checking out of any serious work from Christmas until March (See you in March? Debate in New Zealand over extremely long summer break, 12 December). Who are these workers exactly? Retail workers? No, they’re straight back on deck for Boxing Day sales. Supermarket workers? Certainly not. Hospital staff? Fast-food workers? Bar and cafe workers? I think not.

Minimum-wage workers need not apply for this extended break. I suspect the article reflects the experience of “professional” types: company directors, academics and politicians. Meanwhile, unseen people are working their behinds off emptying your bins and selling you beer for atrocious wages. They’re certainly not asking you to “circle back [in] February”.
David Parker
Auckland, New Zealand

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