Mayor calls for Matariki to become a public holiday

From Nine To Noon, 9:37 am on 7 June 2018

Wellington's mayor is calling for Queen's Birthday to be ditched in favour of a new national holiday celebrating Matariki. Last year Wellington City Council announced it would no longer put on its traditional Guy Fawkes fireworks display in November, instead opting for July to coincide with the Maori new year festival of Matariki. Now, Justin Lester, says its time to go further and swap Queen's Birthday for a new public holiday at Matariki.