Lawyers object to funeral parlour

By ANNE BESTON

An Auckland law firm has discovered death can be bad for business.

Dawsons Lawyers of Howick is going to court to block the opening of a funeral parlour because its location directly opposite the firm's offices goes against the ancient Chinese art of Feng Shui. The firm said it would lose its Asian clients once the parlour opened.

"A significant proportion of our clientele are Asian and they have real concerns and objections to, and in fact won't do business next to, a funeral parlour," said Dawsons partner Bill Endean.

The parlour has recently been granted resource consent from the local council and the firm says its appeal to the Environment Court against the consents was the only way to protect business.

"The caskets would be carried right outside our offices in full view of clients," he said.

"We respect our clients' beliefs, it's a cultural thing and we don't want our business damaged because the funeral parlour's front door is directly opposite our front door."

Mr Endean said the firm also had traffic and roading concerns about the parlour.

Feng Shui is about harmonising the negative and positive energies in life. The Chinese believe contact with death or "bad spirits" can lead to bad luck and that negative energy could flow from the funeral parlour into the law firm.

Mr Endean estimated 40 per cent of Dawsons clients were Asian. Feng Shui beliefs are taken into account by banks, real estate companies and featured in this year's Home Show.

Estate agents have learned not to try to sell Asian buyers properties near cemeteries, funeral parlours or churches.