ROSLYN WOOLWORTHS REJECTS GIFT CARD FOR BEING "TOO FESTIVE" — IT IS AUGUST

A $50 gift card presented at the Roslyn Woolworths checkout on Tuesday was declined by staff on the grounds that it was, and I quote, "too festive for August".

The card, depicting a wreath and the phrase SEASON'S GREETINGS, was tendered by Palmerston North resident Annika Vossen, 34. She had received it from her mother-in-law in December and only just remembered it existed. "I'm not in a hurry. I just want washing powder," Vossen told The Daily Yarn. "The girl looked at it like I'd handed her a court summons."

The operator, who appeared to be roughly nineteen and sporting a nose ring of the type previously flagged in this column, called a supervisor. The supervisor called another supervisor. A queue formed. A man behind Vossen with a single cucumber audibly sighed.

A Woolworths NZ spokesperson confirmed gift cards do not have expiry seasons. "All gift cards are valid regardless of the imagery printed on them. We are speaking with the team member involved." My mate at the station noted this was the third "vibe-based refusal" reported in the lower North Island this month.

Vossen eventually paid by EFTPOS and left. The card was returned to her, still festive, still valid, still unspent. She intends to try the Terrace End branch on Thursday.

The cucumber bloke, asked for comment, said: "I just wanted the cucumber."