Park life requires quiet wife for job

Wives who do not have a ‘‘quiet disposition’’ need not apply for a job at Tokoroa’s Glenview Holiday Park.

A recent classified ad in the

called for a couple to manage the holiday park. But it came with some very specific requirements that included a wife who ‘‘must have knowledge of Microsoft Office, telephone, multitasking and be good in communication of a quiet disposition’’. Her partner would be required for the park maintenance side of things.

The advertisement surprised the National Council of Women New Zealand president, Lisa Lawrence, who said the language was outdated.

It was also contrary to New Zealand laws that ensure everyone has an equal opportunity in the pursuit of any job.

‘‘I would have expected to see this 40-50 years ago,’’ she said.

‘‘The Employment Relations Act and Human Rights Act might find the wording in this advertisement contrary to the notion that all interested and suitably skilled people can apply for roles they are interested in.

‘‘Perhaps they could rerun the advertisement and replace the word ‘wife’ with ‘person one’ and replace the word ‘partner’ with ‘person two’.

Perhaps change the ‘quiet disposition’ to ‘calm nature and professional reception skills’.

‘‘Tokoroa has some amazing people and I am sure they will find fantastic staff, irrespective of gender or marital status.’’

When asked about the advertisement, Auckland-based owner Allan Eaton shifted blame to the

for his use of words. ‘‘You shouldn’t have let me put it in, if it was untoward.’’

He said he never intended to cause offence. ‘‘We deal with a lot of people who can sometimes be hostile in a situation of rent, so I just wanted someone ... that was calm and collected to manage those people. It is a challenging role.’’