Labour Dunedin North MP David Clark says if his bill becomes law it will not affect employers as they already budget for 11 statutory holidays. "The bill makes sense and, while I hate to admit it, the Australians already ‘Monday-ise' th
Moving Waitangi Day and Anzac Day to the following Monday when they fall on weekends is the goal of a private members bill introduced to Parliament yesterday.
Labour Dunedin North MP David Clark's bill, drawn from the member's bill ballot yesterday, is aimed at what he said was an anomaly – that New Zealanders miss out on the two public holidays every five years.
“These 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 said.
“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 his bill became law it would not impact on employers.
“They already budget for 11 statutory holidays. The bill makes sense and, while I hate to admit it, the Australians already ‘Monday-ise’ their public holidays.
Employers and Manufacturers Association boss Kim Campbell agreed tha moving the public holidays to Monday when they fall on a weekend would not have much of an impact on business.
"From a purely business point of view it won't really make a rat's."
However, he was concerned that in doing so there was the potential to trivialise what are important days in New Zealand's history.
"I think it's important that we honour the past and if that day falls on a weekend - tough," Mr Campbell said.
