New Zealand to Follow Australia's 'Monday-ise' Holidays
Noting that Australians are already doing it and Kiwis should not continue to miss a chance on Monday holidays, first-term Labour MP David Clark was pleased that his bill Holidays (Full Recognition of Waitangi Day and Anzac Day) Amendment Bill was drawn on Tuesday from the members' bill ballot.
In Mr. Clark's bill, workers would have a rest day the Monday after Waitangi Days or Anzac Days if these holidays fell on Saturday or Sunday.
In 2010, Waitangi Day fell on a Sunday and if Mr. Clark's bill were already a law, Kiwis would have enjoyed a day off from work the next day.
"The bill makes sense and, while I hate to admit it, the Australians already 'Monday-ise' their public holidays. There's no reason Kiwis should continue to miss out,'' Mr. Clark told APNZ.
"These (Waitangi Day and Anzac Day) are two of this country's most significant days, yet a glitch in the system means they are not protected under the Holidays Act,'' Mr. Clark added.
The bill author explained that his bill will not change the dates of commemoration of said holidays. It is only meant to give workers a day off when they are supposed to have a holiday.
"There are no plans to shift commemorations... they will still be celebrated on the actual dates, but it doesn't seem fair that where workers are entitled to a day off they are sometimes missing out,'' Mr. Clark said.
If the bill is approved for enactment, Mr. Clark said it would not affect employers negatively because they already budgeted for 11 statutory holidays.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister John Key said the National Party caucus would have to discuss whether to support a law change.
"When it was an issue last year I said I'd get some advice on it, I haven't actually seen that advice yet,'' he told APNZ.
Mr. Key said that the drawn bill is "something the caucus can consider."