Workers miss out on public holidays
BY KIRSTY JOHNSTON
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Workers feeling a little out of sorts this week may have good reason.
Because of Waitangi Day falling on a Saturday this year, employees slogging it out from Monday to Friday have been denied a traditional day's leave.
And in worse news for the nine-to-fivers, the same thing will happen on Anzac Day in two months' time.
This is because Waitangi Day and Anzac Day are the only two public holidays in New Zealand that are non-transferable – meaning they don't roll over to the next working day even if they fall on a weekend.
According to New Zealand historian Jim McAloon, from Victoria University, Anzac Day in particular has never been made transferable, or "Mondayised", because it is a particularly sacred holiday for New Zealanders. "When it was first declared a public holiday [in 1921] it was specified that everything had to be shut, like on a Sunday," Professor McAloon said.
"It wasn't really a holiday. And then because it was such a solemn occasion it wasn't thought to be appropriate to Mondayise it."
Parliament even passed legislation in 1949 to prevent Anzac Day becoming transferable, he said.
Professor McAloon thought Waitangi Day – although not as sacred an occasion – would have been treated with similar reasoning.
Even when Prime Minister Norman Kirk changed Waitangi Day to "New Zealand Day" in 1974 and it formally became a public holiday, the idea of making it transferable was rejected (the name was changed back to Waitangi Day in 1976 by Kirk's successor Robert Muldoon).
This is despite other "sacred" holidays, such as Christmas, being Mondayised.
Taranaki anthropologist Gary Bastin, from Puke Ariki, said this was probably a reflection of what people wanted at the time.
"The decision would have been relatively arbitrary," Mr Bastin said.
"There would have been some discussion when they made the law. Often, business interest groups get really upset if you start giving days off, so they wouldn't have liked it, for example."
Mr Bastin said depending what discussion was had around Waitangi Day and Anzac Day, there might be a change of law in the future.
"It may become moveable if there is enough public support for it," he said.
Currently, New Zealand has 11 public holidays.
They come under the Holidays Act 2003 and can be changed only by an act of Parliament.
In Australia, where Anzac Day is also celebrated, it is an unconditionally non-transferable holiday in two states only. It is a moveable holiday in four states if it falls on a Sunday.
Two other states, Tasmania and Victoria, will not move the holiday no matter when it falls.
- © Fairfax NZ News
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its unfair, why can't we have 2 days of Anzac and two days of Waitangi?
Oh harden up. It's just a day. We have far too many holidays anyway.
Just to put a bee in everyones bonnett... we don't get ANZAC next year either - it falls on Easter Monday
I almost forgot it was Waitangi Day on Saturday. I only remembered when there was all the hype of the media having to pay to get in at Waitangi... I think Waitangi should be made NZ Day - as it should be for all New Zealanders, Kiwis, Maori, Europeans, Asians, Everyone living in NZ should celebrate it, not just being about declaration signed by Maori and English over 100 years ago. ANZAC Day on the other hand should always be on the 25th I for one remember as I get up for the dawn ceremonies.
@ Cyrano de Burgerking #8
I find your comment bizzarr. I was in the UK for Armistice Day. I followed the cue of the locals - I paid my respects to the fallen. It didn't matter that it wasn't ANZAC Day - It was still had a "pull" for me! A life is a life and last I checked unless you were Italian or German we were on the same side fighting for the same things. ANZAC does not commemorate one campaign anymore and hasn't done so for many years - it commorates the fallen in many theatres - we too could not have a day for each campaign within the WWI, WWII, Korea, Vetnam etc etc as sad to say - there are not enough days... I would have thought being in a small country that sent its soldiers to the other side of the world to fight in a war it didn't have to would have given ANZAC Day some real pull.
We will never catch up with Australia unless we can also mondayise our national day and Anzac day those who think we shouldn't don't be so mean, people work hard over here and as to paying a surcharge do what I do only frequent cafes etc that don't charge it. 20 years ago we used to get paid double time to work a public holiday and no business had to charge more back then - why now.
&rew #20 We close on Xmas & Easter because they are sacred Christian holidays and this country was built on these Christian beliefs. Those who aren't Christian just have to suck it up - as we would if we were overseas and celebrating hindu/jewish or islamic etc holidays. I am happy as larry for those not of the faith to have their own closures to suit their religion or other special holidays.
I think we should definitely mondayise both holidays, but celebrate Anzac day i.e morning service etc on the 25th. Also, more emphasis on Waitangi Day being a celebration of New Zealand, and not just on Maoridom & the Treaty. NZ-day events such as kiwi bands and BBQ's would be great! Or picnics in the park, or street parties...so many awesome options.
It happens again next year too. Having an additional day off does not lessen ANZAC days meaning. It just means that if ANZAC day is on a weekend, you have time to stop and commemorate and still have another day on Monday to get all your weekend jobs done.
Im ashamed at all of you that are 'missing out on a day off' remembering what happened on ANZAC day is not about having a day off its remembering what our ancestors fought for. No matter what day it is you should get up and go to a memorial for ANZAC day.
The pettiness is outstanding, I bet our soldiers didnt get many days off on the frontlines!!!
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Do you think Waitangi Day and Anzac Day holidays should be "Monday-ised"?
Related story: Nats to discuss Mondayising holidays
Move Waitangi Day to the nearest working day if it falls on a weekend, nobody honours the treaty anymore.
As for ANZAC day it wouldn't hurt to have the dawn parades on the day it has always fallen (Apr 25) but shift the holiday to a Monday (or Friday) too for weekday workers.