Editorial: Many spend well beyond their means on presents

Mark Dawson, Editor of Wanganui Chronicle

SHOCK news for retailers everywhere - most Kiwis think Christmas has got too commercial.

You don't say? Well, Colmar Brunton's latest poll does say ... exactly that.

But before the manufacturers of Lego, Star Wars merchandise, iPhones etc start panicking, the survey also reveals that even those fed up with the bombardment of endless sales pitches will still be spending big time this Christmas.

Turning back the commercialisation of Christmas is a bit like King Canute trying to turn back the tide ... or trying to keep the "H" out of Whanganui.

Certainly the whole tinsel-wrapped palaver gets up my nose. The worst offenders are those companies offering loans, one even saying: "Come on in - we can help."

That is, of course, help you get into debt which might prove quite difficult to get out of.

Worryingly, Colmar Brunton's results show 14 per cent of respondents admitting to spending more than they can afford this year.

My fear is that Christmas is secretly being run by Serco as part of its drive for world domination. Still, it's not all bad news.

The survey has 41 per cent saying the spirit of Christmas is alive and well - and, of course, they are correct. There is a whole heap of goodwill and generosity struggling to get out from under the wrapping paper and maxed-out credit cards. Christmas came early this week for gas and oil companies, with the Government selling off rights for exploration in our waters - a classic example of commercialisation run riot, and a disturbing move in view of last week's global climate change agreement. The impacts of such exploration on the ocean's eco-systems are hard to prove, but no harder than minister Simon Bridges' claim that oil and gas rigs can co-exist harmlessly alongside aquatic life.

A really good Christmas gift would be a marine sanctuary off the south Taranaki coast to protect the 55 remaining Maui's dolphins.

Currently the waters they swim in are on offer for exploration - no wonder dolphins don't believe in Santa Claus.