spinofflive
NZ’s very own queue (Photo: Stewart Sowman-Lund, additional design Tina Tiller)
NZ’s very own queue (Photo: Stewart Sowman-Lund, additional design Tina Tiller)

BusinessSeptember 28, 2022

New Zealanders queue for hours to see a coffin in West Auckland

NZ’s very own queue (Photo: Stewart Sowman-Lund, additional design Tina Tiller)
NZ’s very own queue (Photo: Stewart Sowman-Lund, additional design Tina Tiller)

It might not be the Queue, but it’s certainly a queue. Stewart Sowman-Lund joined the crowd.

Hundreds of people were spotted queuing in West Auckland this morning, including dozens who had braved the cold overnight.

It’s the latest in a series of queues that have formed around the world in recent weeks, most prominently for the Queen’s lying in state in London. Just like in Westminster, those queuing in Westgate also passed by a coffin, though few stopped to pay their respects. There were fewer journalists reporting on this queue too.

In the line, which initially snaked around a large building and down a nearby street, people could be spotted with blankets and camp chairs. There were also reports people had spent the night camped out in their cars. 

It was still dark when The Spinoff arrived on Wednesday morning but the atmosphere in the queue was of excitement, not mourning. 

The Queue outside Westminster Hall was about 16km long. The Westgate queue was probably more like 100 metres but the level of anticipation at what participants were about to witness, and the historic moment that was unfolding, was surely equal.

Selected VIPs were able to bypass the queue and enter early, though it’s unlikely they’ll face the same level of public scorn as Phillip Schofield. One of those allowed in without the need to join the queue was outgoing Auckland mayor Phil Goff, who was pictured stopping for a moment of quiet reflection by the coffin.

Phil Goff pays his respects (Photo: FB)

It’s unknown whether the photo op was a purposeful metaphor for his political career, which will end in some way on October 8 when local government voting closes.

At about 7am this morning, the queue started to shuffle forward. The murmurs of excitement grew as members of the public were allowed inside. There were cheers as a ribbon was cut somewhere in the distance, though only a lucky few were close enough to witness this moment. 

‘If you value The Spinoff and the perspectives we share, support our work by donating today.’
Anna Rawhiti-Connell
— Senior writer

One man spoken to by The Spinoff said he was most excited by the range of “clothing” which was available at “excellent prices”. Another woman said she had been part of the queue and was on the hunt for Christmas presents. “These are things you can’t get anywhere else,” she said. Hotdogs were also popular among those who had queued and were available for only $1.99. They could be found just next to the coffin (and came with a refillable soda).

The queue (Photo: Ben Gracewood)

On social media, some pointed out that the last time they had seen people queuing to this extent was during the Covid-19 lockdowns. “Reminds me of the panic shoppers,” said one person. In similar scenes to during the pandemic, people were seen with bulk amounts of toilet paper, though this time it was acceptable.

Back outside, the queue had returned to its initial length by about 10am and once again twisted around the foyer and out onto the neighbouring street. There were reports of traffic congestion and significant delays for getting into the nearby carpark. “Is the shop going somewhere is that the reason for the camping and early long lines,” questioned one Facebook commenter. The Spinoff can confirm the shop, which we should probably point out is New Zealand’s first Costco warehouse, is not going anywhere.

Costco is now open in Westgate, 10am Sunday to Friday and 9.30am on Saturday.

Keep going!
Rent week
Image: Archi Banal

BusinessSeptember 28, 2022

PSA: Your landlord can’t ask to see your bank statements 

Rent week
Image: Archi Banal

Other things off limits: your relationship status, employment details and whether or not you buy avocado on toast on the reg.

Do you have pets? Will you mow the lawns? How many keys do you need? And can you pay a two-week bond, and two weeks’ worth of rent, upfront? These are some of the things landlords are allowed to ask you when you’re applying to rent a flat.

The list of things landlords aren’t allowed to ask you is much longer. In no particular order, it includes your race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, relationship status, disabilities, age, political views and your employment status.

Tenants should certainly not be providing copies of their bank statements to win the right to rent an affordable home in Aotearoa.

This isn’t just me saying this – it’s the Privacy Act, which states that a landlord or property manager cannot ask a prospective tenant for information protected under the Human Rights Act. “You should think about whether you really need the information before you ask for it,” is how the Privacy Commissioner officially advises landlords to approach things. 

The reason is obvious, but worth restating: this information could be used to discriminate during the flat letting process. According to the Privacy Commissioner, prospective tenants shouldn’t be disadvantaged for “refusing to provide information the landlord shouldn’t be asking for in the first place”.

But that isn’t stopping some landlords for requesting all of these things – and much more. In a new survey released this week (one that dovetails nicely into The Spinoff’s Rent Week coverage), industry watchdog Consumer NZ found some landlords and property managers are asking renters to provide far more personal information than they’re allowed to.

During a mystery shopper exercise conducted while posing as a prospective tenant, Consumer NZ uncovered some alarming statistics, including 6% of surveyed rental agencies requesting bank statements. Another 10% encouraged prospective tenants to supply extra information with a cover letter and rental CV, including age bracket, gender, and relationship and employment status.

One said “the more information you provide [about yourself] the better your chances” while another said any extra information could “make your application stand out from the others”. When asked about the safety and security of that information, 14% of those surveyed became “noticeably disinterested”.



During the study, Consumer NZ met one 25-year-old Christchurch resident who said her landlord asked her for “really weird” details, including how long she’d had her phone number. The landlord then requested her boss’s phone number, as well as her bank statement and salary information.

Consumer NZ chief executive Jon Duffy says the findings are a sign the rental market remains buoyant and there’s plenty of competition among renters – especially in major centres. In July, the average rental price in Auckland was $590 per week, up $10 on the same period in 2021, reports interest.co.nz. In Wellington, rental prices are up 9.4%, and Christchurch is up 9.5%.

“The rental market remains tough in many areas of the country, and many prospective tenants are offering up more information than required just to get a shot at being considered for a property,” says Duffy. Renters are under pressure to share personal information as a way to win over potential landlords or agents. “The way we see it, they are damned if they do and damned if they don’t.”

Duffy encourages renters to know their rights, and to check the Privacy Act Guidance for Tenants to learn more. “It’s concerning that some renters are expected and encouraged to give up sensitive private information, but it also raises questions about what happens to this information,” he says. “Property managers could be discriminating against some applicants, based on the information they provide.”

While these requests could breach the Privacy Act, Duffy says it’s up to renters to know their rights around what information landlords are allowed to ask for. “Ultimately it is up to the applicant how much information they share,” he says.

Rent Week 2022 runs from September 27 to October 2. Read the best of our renting coverage here.

But wait there's more!