7 Jun 2010

Queen's Birthday irrelevant, say republicans

6:13 am on 7 June 2010

The Republican Movement says New Zealanders are turning their back on traditional Queen's Birthday celebrations.

It says it surveyed all city and district mayors last month to find out whether any were holding Queen's Birthday events this year.

While none volunteered positive responses, it says, several said they would be holding events to celebrate Matariki, the Maori new year.

The chair of the movement, Lewis Holden, says the response illustrates how irrelevant Queen's Birthday and the monarchy are to many people.

Events are focusing instead on Matariki and the winter solstice, he says.