Public support continues to grow for getting ANZAC and Waitangi Public Holidays Monday-ised when they fall on a weekend. New Zealanders work some of the longest hours in the OECD. Naturally, it is disappointing when some years we miss out on one or two of the eleven Public Holidays we look forward to every other year. This week’s Listener editorial makes the same point. Cartoon courtesy of @slanecartoons.
I reckon attendance at ANZAC dawn services will go up when people know they can sleep an extra hour or two on the Monday that follows. Waitangi festivals around the country are growing in popularity as family events. This Bill recognises the growing importance of 6 February and 25 April to our sense of history and national identity.
I think National will show just how out of touch they have become if they don’t get in behind my Bill. A recent Stuff poll had public support at around 80%. Hard working Kiwis deserve every one of the eleven Public Holidays they currently get.
They will use the argument that people will not know which day to celebrate.
Sadly that argument doesnt work, we celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December, even though we may get a holiday for it a couple of days later.
Labour were called the Nanny state, these guys need to be called the nasty state.
For me Mondayising them takes away the meaning of the day – especially ANZAC Day which is only half a day anyway. I prefer the way it is.
I think National will show just how out of touch they have become if they don’t get in behind my Bill.
If they support the bill will it show how in touch they are?
”I want a new kind of politics, pragmatic and attentive to what works, not tied up in the squabbles of the past.”
Criticising National is premature, they haven’t made a decision yet.
@Pete George – I’m afraid this bill is not about you and your politics. It is about giving hard working Kiwis the holidays they deserve. That said, and given your previous comments, I am a little amused that you in particular wouldn’t be keen to see MPs responding to overwhelming popular mandates. Both David Farrar & Cactus Kate have had no problem reaching a decision to support the Bill. (Each for their own reasons). I confess a little surprise that the PM needs so much time to get his head around this issue.
To be fair, Pete George only commented on the reverse assumption of the argument about National being in touch. I have no problem with the legislation change however, Key has in the past been criticised for being “populist”.
So to play devils advocate, should “all popular” opinion be converted into legislation??? Most people would love a permanent 3 day weekend!! Lets legislate for it!!
David – your comment surprises me. You know very well I’m for this bill and have promoted it however I can.
You say it’s about “giving hard working Kiwis the holidays they deserve”. You’re the one trying to play politics beyond that. Or maybe you’re just a bit impatient – I’m sure the Nats are aware of when they need to decide by, but they might have one or two other things to do as well. I’m sure the PM jump to attention for you when he’s ready.
David you are a bit tough on the PM. He has a few things on his plate at present not the least of which is restoring New Zealand to surplus and restoring Christchurch. As I understand it 2015 is the next time one or other of Waitangi Day and/or Anzac Day fall on a weekend so this is really low priority stuff.
“Criticising National is premature”
Really? I think not, especially on the Labour party blogsite.
“they haven’t made a decision yet.”
Just wait for an opinion poll or two and you’ll soon have a nat decision.
“David you are a bit tough on the PM. He has a few things on his plate at present”
Apologist nonsence :roll eyes:
nonsense :blush:
al1ens – maybe you should get with the programme.
”I want a new kind of politics, pragmatic and attentive to what works, not tied up in the squabbles of the past.”
“I’m not the kind of leader who believes in rival tribes playing ‘gotcha’, where bickering and partisanship are prized.”
- Shearer not buying into ‘gotcha’ politics
Well done David. This is an issue that won’t go away. If the government isn’t careful, it’s going to lead to MPs crossing the floor, a snap election being declared, and a bitter election campaign fought on the rights of workers 2 days out of every 2555.
Al1ens!
! You no know your emoticons? 
You need roll and oops!
There seems to be two sorts of ‘Mondayised’
Those that are only observed on Mondays no matter what the real date is. ie Provincial Anniversaries, Queens Birthday, Labour Day.
Then there are days which have an observance on the actual day but have an extra day holiday if the observance is a weekend. This is only for Xmas day, Boxing Day and the two days for New Years.
Then there is Easter which started with a Friday, as the only reason is the Crucifixion appears to have happened on a Friday. Easter Monday follows from this. Easter is not fixed on the same date every year which causes other anomalies. You could say Easter was the original weekend holiday.
But not all western countries have a universal holiday on Good Friday. Ireland has banks and public offices closed but most businesses runing. France doesnt have a holiday on Good Friday except in areas bordering Germany.
FYI: Top ten countries for the most public holidays:
http://www.tourism-review.com/top-countries-with-most-public-holidays-news1665
Not the best argument Daz as in HK most staff get just 2 weeks annual leave, many less to the statutory minimum. The case for lower annual leave is supported by more public holidays.
W3 seems to say John Key has to make a sort of Sophies Choice, between ‘saving’ Christchurch and Mondayising two holidays to have an extra day off( occasionally).
It’s good to see that the
LabourLeisure party is `in touch’ with NZers’ concerns.“al1ens – maybe you should get with the programme.”
I don’t need to do anything of the sort. I’m not running for public office.
If I were, no doubt I’d moderate my contempt for failed divisive nat politics, but seeing as that won’t be happening anytime soon, it’s game on kicking at the soft blue belly of the tory beast.
If you have issues with Labour supporters airing their opinions about key and his 90′s dinosaurson the Labour party blogsite, then maybe you need to find a more accommodating site.
Perhaps http://www.doormat.co.nz
Thomas , its up there with the Govt giving money to NZs Got Talent.
“You need roll and oops!”
That’s enough about Paula bennett
Oh for the love of Christ.
1. Mondayising means observing the day by allowing a public holiday, it doesn’t mean celebrating ANZAC day on a different day. If anything, it gives greater meaning to ANZAC day by making it so important, we get the Monday subsequent as a public holiday.
2. New Zealanders already work some of the longest hours (with the lowest productivity) in the OECD, it isn’t going to end the world to reward some with a day where they can’t actually work.
3. Sniping about David Shearer’s commitment to a new kind of politics, doesn’t mean the politics of this can’t be played, it’s not playing “gotcha”, it’s just saying the PM hasn’t yet made his mind up yet and we’d all like to know. To be fair, he has to take advice and that’s the part that takes up time.
4. It might be a low priority, but let’s put it this way: first, it is David’s Member’s Bill, it was drawn from the ballot so it is on the Order Paper for debate whether it is a priority or not, it is one of the ways things can become law and David was fortunate enough to have had his Bill drawn. Labour’s priorities are right where they want them to be, this doesn’t put anyone in or out of touch, it was the luck of the draw and it just so happens to be very popular with the public sick of feeling like it’s always bad news for them.
5. Can we for once just say, “Yay!” something good, something to look forward to. Instead no, we just wrestle back and forth with petty political snipes… David, well done man… you got your Bill drafed, it’s been drawn and most support it becoming law… why? ‘Cause it is something for us and it is something that is good news, it’s easy to do and it doesn’t draw a line down the middle of our politics, it just balances out the work we do with something in return, for a change… No guilt, no drama.
I happen to think this does show some political nouse, you choosing something like this had to be calculated and I think that shows a smart political brain because of the profile you’ve already given yourself. Be that as it may, good luck and thanks! I look forward to being able to go to ANZAC Day on a Sunday and having Monday as an acknowledgement that New Zealand thinks it is important enough we stop working for a time and think about why.
@Kaine – Yee haa!
Dem are some good words! 
!
@Ghost – Hi
@Al1ens –
Could I suggest taking it a little further and proposing an extra public holiday – Community and Family day. I am not sure how many countries have this, but do know that ACT in Australia have a Community and Family day a week after Canberra day, and Canada have just recently had a public holiday for Family Day, perhaps somewhere between Queens Birthday and Labour Day…