The New Zealand Herald

Sideswipe

- Ana Samways | ana.samways@nzherald.co.nz

Unpacking bureaucrac­y

“We ordered some hand sanitiser from our stationery supplier,” writes Carole. “It came in a box measuring 30cm x 22cm x 30cm. The box had a packing slip folded and placed in a stuck-on window pocket, along with another piece of paper: a Dangerous Goods Declaratio­n and Packaging Declaratio­n with a big red stamp DGLQ on it and personally signed by the storeperso­n responsibl­e, and dated. On the box some additional stickers had been added: One red triangle, with ‘Flammable Liquid’, one black triangle with the centre label peeled off, an orange Fragile sticker, another sticker with DGSP EXEMPT, a courier delivery docket, a Dangerous Goods label specifical­ly for the attention of the courier. Inside the box was about a dozen air bags which everyone has fun bursting. At the bottom of the box is a plastic bag tied with a knot in it. Inside the plastic bag is a hand sanitiser pump. What is ironic also, is that the product is required as a health & safety requiremen­t to remove potential germs that exist in and outside the workplace. I’m sure all the prep, packaging and delivery will cost three times the cost of the sanitiser, just because of a health and safety requiremen­t.”

Road works in disguise

Tony writes: “Sue was an official at the World Masters Games and at a briefing from a woman from Ateed they were told that if visitors asked for directions to or from anywhere they must not use the term ‘road works’. The correct term these days, apparently, is ‘road transforma­tions’.”

Truth about tipping

A reader writes: “My son has worked as a chef at multiple places in Auckland, and on the Gold Coast, and he reports: cash tips are mostly kept by the individual waiter, very rarely are they shared and the kitchen staff are almost never included. Eftpos tips are mostly kept by the owner.”

Cliff Curtis the Messiah du jour

“Many Americans would have seen the movie Risen which came out last year,” writes Chris. “So having New Zealander Cliff Curtis (who played “Yeshua” in the film) as the face of Christ in an election campaign poster would make some sense.”

 ??  ?? Does Vegan mean it’s not real cow, or that the cow whose skin it used to be was vegan? Spotted in Bed, Bath and Beyond catalogue.
Does Vegan mean it’s not real cow, or that the cow whose skin it used to be was vegan? Spotted in Bed, Bath and Beyond catalogue.
 ??  ?? This sign, in Whangarei’s Bank St, makes Frank Nerney think it’s time to do away with the apostrophe.
This sign, in Whangarei’s Bank St, makes Frank Nerney think it’s time to do away with the apostrophe.
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