No public holiday for New Zealand land wars commemoration
A date is likely to be set to commemorate the New Zealand land wars but a public holiday isn't on the agenda, Prime Minister John Key says.
Prime minister John Key says a public holiday isn't on the agenda. Photo: Getty
Maori leaders have been pushing for a commemoration holiday and Deputy Prime Minister Bill English said last week a decision would be made.
"We're not proposing a separate public holiday, we're saying it's likely there might be agreement at some point that a commemoration date can be set, subject to iwi agreement," Mr Key told reporters on Tuesday.
Dep' PM @honbillenglish says day to commemorate NZ wars will be commemoration only, not a public holiday. (actual day still to be chosen)
— Felix Marwick (@felixmarwick) August 22, 2016
Labour leader Andrew Little agrees the land wars should be commemorated.
"I know they (the government) haven't indicated what form it would take but I think we do need it," he said.
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"As we fully come to terms with our history and the reality of it, we ought to be observing our own internal land wars in the way we observe conflicts and casualties in other wars we've participated in."
