Marlborough Express - Weekend Express
Halloween: welcome fun or meaningless?
That spooky time of year has been and gone and while some streets welcomed Halloween and trick-or-treaters, there were other houses more likely to give an earful than Halloween lollies. Do you think there’s a place for Halloween in New Zealand?
YOU SAY
Waste of money. Kids are warned to stay away from strangers, but on this one day, it’s encouraged to approach strangers’ homes and ask for lollies
Graeme from Hillsborough
It creates demand for a pile of plastic garbage for landfill, and promotes yet more unhealthy food. Like Guy Fawkes, not our tradition, and meaningless here.
Janet from Morningside
I don’t have a problem with Halloween, per se, and I’m all for giving kids a treat. I do have an issue with random strangers, kids and adults, knocking on doors asking for candy. It’s a great way to get to know your neighbours and their children. We put up fences and get busy in our own circles and forget to be neighbourly. During the trick or treat period, everyone is mingling and having a positive experience. You can choose not to participate. You don’t have to buy things to participate. Last year I had a child who appeared to not be in costume. It turns out he is on the spectrum and decided he wanted to still come out. He was “Brave Evan”. He waves to me now when he sees me. That’s modern-day Halloween.
Instead of the Americanised version of Halloween we need a Kiwi version where public events are held for families. One where the meaning behind All Hallows Eve can be appreciated; remembering and respecting those who have gone before. Cemetery parties where headstones are cleaned and the cemetery is decorated. Picnics are held, music is played, stories are told. Some true … some completely made up (in the name of fun). Games are played. Costumes are worn and competitions for the best and worst, silliest, spookiest, closest resemblance and worst resemblance. Yes, have spooky fun, costumes, candy and so on but it’s so much more. And we can do it so much better. Julie from Havelock North
Not necessary in New Zealand with the opposite season. And all the commercialisation and sugar high kids with dental issues is another reason not to acknowledge this northern hemisphere event.
Frances from Manurewa
Love Halloween. It’s a time when I can scare the bejesus out of the little buggers and get away with it. Do it properly and they won’t come back. (Joking)
Shane from Putaruru
I love doing Halloween for kids. Adults are with them.They are dressed up in lovely costumes. They are excited and you can see they enjoy it. I buy lollies that come with their own wrapping. They come during the early evening making it enjoyable for us as well.
Libby from Titirangi
For everyone crying that it’s too American. A) it is not originally from the United States (it’s actually Scottish/Irish). B) With that logic, let’s get rid of Santa (unlike Halloween, he is a US creation). In fact, let’s rid of Christmas … it’s a Christian holiday but the majority of New Zealanders don’t identify as Christian (according to 2018 census). C) let’s ban Easter eggs, as they are not a New Zealand idea. Use some common sense, it’s a fun time for kids to dress up and for people to share some joy. If you make it a bad thing, it’s a bad thing. Craig from Mount Wellington
I think if it connects, brings a community together and make kids happy, then I’m all for it! Whether people like it or not it’s here to stay and getting bigger every year! Me and my daughter have been enjoying it for years. Grateful for the people who go above and beyond to make it spooky and fun for all. You don’t have to spend lots of money to get creative. If you’re not interested, best to leave a sign at your gate saying “no trick or treaters”.
Alicia from Rothesay Bay
We had an extremely pleasant bunch of kiddies arriving in their costumes – all polite, all delighted to get a small reaction from you. What a treat for them. It would be very disappointing to take this evening of fun away from them. It honestly doesn’t take a lot to put up a decoration or two and buy a few treats.