New World and Pak ‘N Save Supermarkets to Close on Friday for Commemoration Day

As a mark of respect for the loss of life, injury and hardship caused by the recent earthquake, New World and Pak ‘n Save supermarkets in the greater Christchurch area will not be open on Friday, 18 March. This coincides with the Canterbury Earthquake Commemoration Day along with the scheduled commemoration services.

Greater Christchurch includes all supermarkets from Rolleston to Rangiora.

Nigel Bond, owner operator of New World South City, which was impacted by the earthquake and took two weeks to open, said that by closing for the day it gave staff an opportunity to take part in the commemoration services.

“The building has been repaired and certified as safe, but the earthquake itself has had a profound effect on staff. We have an office manager who had a nephew killed, many of our staff have had major damage to their homes and there is just the day-to-day trauma of battling with the aftershocks.

“There is still much grieving to be done and this is an opportunity for us all to express that grief and to take another step back to normality,” he said.

ENDS

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