1324 days ago

Poll: Do you agree Matariki or Māori New Year should be a public holiday?

Ripu Bhatia Reporter from Community News

Hi neighbours,

Labour leader Jacinda Ardern has announced Labour will make Matariki New Zealand’s twelth public holiday from 2022 if re-elected.

The new winter public holiday would fall at some point during the Matariki period, with an expectation that it would always happen on either a Monday or a Friday.

The policy announcement follows a series of public campaigns for the Matariki, which acts as the Māori New Year, to be recognised.

The exact timing of Matariki shifts every year as it relates to a star cluster reappearing and has traditionally varied between Iwi.

It would be the first new public holiday since the Third Labour Government made Waitangi Day a public holiday in 1973, although then Prime Minister Norman Kirk called it “New Zealand Day”.

“Matariki will be a distinctly New Zealand holiday and a time for reflection, celebration and to look to the future as we take increasing pride in our unique national identity,” Ardern said.

She said the struggling tourism sector could use the help of another holiday and noted the “long run” with no public holidays that currently happens between Queen’s Birthday in early June and Labour Day in late October.

“We don’t have many statutory holidays compared to other OECD countries and it would be good to break up the long run through winter,” Ardern said.

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Do you agree Matariki or Māori New Year should be a public holiday?
  • 63.8% Yes
    63.8% Complete
  • 36.2% No
    36.2% Complete
1358 votes
More messages from your neighbours
1 day ago

Poll: Does the building consent process need to change?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

We definitely need homes that are fit to live in but there are often frustrations when it comes to getting consent to modify your own home.
Do you think changes need made to the current process for building consent? Share your thoughts below.

Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the Conversations column of your local paper.

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Does the building consent process need to change?
  • 91.3% Yes
    91.3% Complete
  • 8.3% No
    8.3% Complete
  • 0.4% Other - I'll share below!
    0.4% Complete
762 votes
4 hours ago

🔌FREE $50 OFF ANY ELECTRICAL WORK - LIMIT 7🔌

Kate from Illuminate Ltd

Have you got any electrical faults, downlight replacing, outdoor lighting, switchboard upgrades that need servicing?

If so, then we’ve got you covered!


We’ve been busy here at Illuminate but we’ve had a big house job put on hold until next week which means a couple of our tradesmen will be knocking around the workshop for the next few days.

We’d rather they were kept busy so we’ll give you $50 of your bill for any work booked in for next week.

Plus we’ll do a free Switchboard Inspection (valued at $79) while we’re at your place to check the safety standards.

📞Call us on 09 238 3384 to book or send a message mentioning this post to get the discount.

If you know of someone that needs any electrical work done, tag them in this post. 💡🛠️

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6 hours ago

Know Thy Neighbour? We are getting there!

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

We are loving seeing everyone's posts about themselves on our Know Thy Neighbour page.

Check out the neighbours in your area, you might find a walking group or choir to join and you might learn a few more neighbours names!

Feel like getting involved? Introduce yourself too, you might win one of our $50 Prezzy® card spot prizes...

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