Who on earth has ever heard of a bank holiday Tuesday? No? I’m not surprised because it just doesn’t happen. Admittedly there are the occasions when Christmas Day falls on a Tuesday but that’s different. And besides, it’s a Christmas Day not Christmas Tuesday and everyone is for too knee deep in mince pies to careanyway.
By the time the Anzac commemorations are out of the way, Autumn is well and truly upon us and there is nothing but the long dark winter ahead. Just as well then that the Queen's Birthday public holiday in June comes along to give us all a bit of cheer. As you will know I'm a huge supporter of the Royal family and it's contribution to the economy, especially if there is a day off thrown in. I just ask that whoever is next on the thrown is selected on the basis of thieir month of birth rather than something as random as hereditary. June is an okay-ish month for a public holiday but May would be a lot better. Whilst we are on the subject (pun entirely intended), I do think it is a bit odd that the UK doesn't get a day off to celebrate the Head of State's birthday whilst New Zealand does. Losers!
After that, well there is only one more public holiday left and that's Labour Day at the end of October. This generally heralds the arrival of spring and its origins are traced back to the eight-hour working day movement that arose in the newly founded Wellington colony in 1840, primarily because of carpenter Samuel Parnell's refusal to work more than eight hours a day. Well hurrah for Wellington and Mr P I say!
Out of all of these holiday, most are either observed on a Friday or a Monday in what is locally known as a Long Weekend. Clever that. Waitangi and Anzac, however, commemorate historical events so they are observed on the day that they fall. If, however, the date falls on a weekend then they are Mondayised and the long weekend status is reinstated.
So what about Waitangi I hear you ask? Well Waitangi is the national day of New Zealand and commemorates the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi on the 6 February 1840, which is generally regarded as New Zealand's founding document. Needless to say when British colonists are involved, it's a very controversial document and I won't presume to understand all of the nuances. In fact, I'm not going to say any more on the subject other than the issues are still being resolved to this day through Treaty of Waitangi claims and settlements.
If you really want to find out more, there is plenty of information on the internet and a cracking museum at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds in the Bay of Islands. It's well worth a visit if you're passing!
I wholly understand why the nation's two significant historical events are observed on the same date each year. Not everything has to beat to the drum of a working week and conveniently move towards a weekend. These events should be different and, dare I say, inconvenient and give everyone cause to stop and think what they are commemorating......even if it does mean having essentially two Monday mornings in the same week!
The same goes for its running mate Boxing Day and second cousin New Year’s Day. These all could fall on a Tuesday but most wouldn’t give it a second thought....It's at this point that I should acknowledge that there are those who have to work through the festive period might have a totally different take on this, just as there are many who work through all of the public holidays.
Anyway, all of this is rather a long way around to noting that today is a public holiday in New Zealand and I find myself in the odd position of having just started the working week, now having a lie in and a sort of mini weekend. How come? Why it’s Waitangi Day of course - more of this in a minute.
New Zealand is blessed with a generous amount of public holidays. Obviously there are the aforementioned festive breaks, the only difference being that they are summer not winter holidays. But just like our Scottish neighbours, New Zealanders also enjoy the aptly named Day After New Year’s Day. Perfect for getting over that hangover or catching up on some much needed sleep.
Just when you’re back into the swing of things in work along comes Auckland Anniversary when the whole of Auckland takes a collective breath and heads to the beach again. Just to be fair, the rest of the country also has respective anniversary days at their allotted times in the calendar but Aucklanders deserve theirs more. Why? Well for putting up with living in Auckland and amongst Aucklanders obviously!
From Auckland Anniversary, it's only a week until the 6 February and Waitangi Day holiday. I know, I don't know how we cope. And then that's it....
Well until Good Friday and Easter Monday that is! Hopefully they're not too late in the calendar because the last thing we would want to do is actually work for a living. Not whilst there’s any strength in the sun and warmth in the sea anyway.
If the stretch from Waitangi to Easter seems a bit of a .....well..... stretch, then Anzac comes along to give us a well earned rest. The 25 April is a national day of remembrance that commemorates Australians and New Zealanders who served and died in wars and conflicts, the date marking the anniversary of the first campaign of the Great War that lead to significant Australian and New Zealand casualties.
From Auckland Anniversary, it's only a week until the 6 February and Waitangi Day holiday. I know, I don't know how we cope. And then that's it....
Well until Good Friday and Easter Monday that is! Hopefully they're not too late in the calendar because the last thing we would want to do is actually work for a living. Not whilst there’s any strength in the sun and warmth in the sea anyway.
If the stretch from Waitangi to Easter seems a bit of a .....well..... stretch, then Anzac comes along to give us a well earned rest. The 25 April is a national day of remembrance that commemorates Australians and New Zealanders who served and died in wars and conflicts, the date marking the anniversary of the first campaign of the Great War that lead to significant Australian and New Zealand casualties.
By the time the Anzac commemorations are out of the way, Autumn is well and truly upon us and there is nothing but the long dark winter ahead. Just as well then that the Queen's Birthday public holiday in June comes along to give us all a bit of cheer. As you will know I'm a huge supporter of the Royal family and it's contribution to the economy, especially if there is a day off thrown in. I just ask that whoever is next on the thrown is selected on the basis of thieir month of birth rather than something as random as hereditary. June is an okay-ish month for a public holiday but May would be a lot better. Whilst we are on the subject (pun entirely intended), I do think it is a bit odd that the UK doesn't get a day off to celebrate the Head of State's birthday whilst New Zealand does. Losers!
After that, well there is only one more public holiday left and that's Labour Day at the end of October. This generally heralds the arrival of spring and its origins are traced back to the eight-hour working day movement that arose in the newly founded Wellington colony in 1840, primarily because of carpenter Samuel Parnell's refusal to work more than eight hours a day. Well hurrah for Wellington and Mr P I say!
Out of all of these holiday, most are either observed on a Friday or a Monday in what is locally known as a Long Weekend. Clever that. Waitangi and Anzac, however, commemorate historical events so they are observed on the day that they fall. If, however, the date falls on a weekend then they are Mondayised and the long weekend status is reinstated.
So what about Waitangi I hear you ask? Well Waitangi is the national day of New Zealand and commemorates the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi on the 6 February 1840, which is generally regarded as New Zealand's founding document. Needless to say when British colonists are involved, it's a very controversial document and I won't presume to understand all of the nuances. In fact, I'm not going to say any more on the subject other than the issues are still being resolved to this day through Treaty of Waitangi claims and settlements.
If you really want to find out more, there is plenty of information on the internet and a cracking museum at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds in the Bay of Islands. It's well worth a visit if you're passing!
I wholly understand why the nation's two significant historical events are observed on the same date each year. Not everything has to beat to the drum of a working week and conveniently move towards a weekend. These events should be different and, dare I say, inconvenient and give everyone cause to stop and think what they are commemorating......even if it does mean having essentially two Monday mornings in the same week!
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