Poll: Do you agree Matariki or Māori New Year should be a public holiday?
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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63.8% Yes
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36.2% No
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Product recalls - November 2024
Here are some items that have been recalled during October/November. Click on the blue title to learn more details about the recalled product.
Food recalls:
Equal brand European Dark Chocolate
Mrs Rogers spices - Butter Chicken, Curry Powder and Garam Masala
Bin Inn brand Ground Fennel
Classic Taste Fennel Powder
Jongga Kimchi
Pure Delish Grain-ola
Homemade Baker Muffin Batter Banana Choc-Chip
Hellers Shaved Roast Chicken
My Food Bag middle eastern spice blend and All The Flavour dukkah
Gilmours Jalapeno flavour corn chips
Product recalls:
Goldair panel heaters
Boost Lab skin cleanser
Canyon E-bike batteries
Panasonic power supply adapter
Kids blanket hoodies
SCA lithium battery
Noxen Kids hooded towel
Kids rubber duckies
Justyling/YesBobbleheads custom Neon sign
Brompton T Line bike
We hope this update was helpful to you and your whānau.
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