Thursday, 17 March 2005
NZ Day Bill brought into Parliament
United Future leader, Peter Dunne, says it’s time New Zealand had a national day that all New Zealanders can celebrate.
He was speaking during last night’s first reading in the House of his New Zealand Day Bill, which seeks to rename
Waitangi Day as New Zealand Day and to Mondayise the holiday on the week in which February 6 falls.
He quoted former Prime Minister, Norman Kirk who said “New Zealand Day is not just a day for the people of the far
north, it is not just a day for Maori but it is a day for all New Zealanders to celebrate the unique gift we possess by
virtue of the fact that we are New Zealanders”.
Mr Dunne denied he was trying to downplay the significance of Waitangi and the Treaty of Waitangi.
The Bill will be debated further in early April and Mr Dunne expects to gather enough support to see the Bill referred
to the justice and electoral select committee for public submissions.
ENDS