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New Zealand Day Bill to be debated by Parliament
Thursday, 21 October 2004
New Zealand Day Bill to be debated by Parliament
United Future leader, Peter Dunne, is delighted his Members Bill, the New Zealand Day Bill, has been drawn from the ballot and is likely to be debated in Parliament in early December.
The Bill seeks to rename
Waitangi Day as New Zealand Day and would be celebrated on
the Monday of the week in which February 6 occurs.
The
Bill’s explanatory note says “Contemporary New Zealand is
becoming an increasingly diverse nation, culturally and
ethically.
It is vital that, as a modern multicultural nation, New Zealand recognises its diversity through a designated national day, to which all sectors of our society feel able to contribute.”
Mr Dunne said today “The timing of the Bill couldn’t do better, with the current debate over the role of the Treaty in New Zealand society and the need for New Zealanders to establish a national identity that encompasses all of us, with our diverse cultural and social backgrounds.”
New Zealand Day Bill
Member’s Bill
Explanatory note
Contemporary New Zealand is becoming an increasingly diverse nation, culturally and ethnically.
It is vital that, as a modern multicultural nation, New Zealand recognises its diversity through a designated national day, to which all sectors of our society feel able to contribute.
This Bill proposes that New Zealand Day be celebrated on the day presently known as Waitangi Day, 6 February.
However, to ensure that the fullest range of commemorative celebrations can take place, and also to acknowledge the particular significance of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, the Bill proposes that New Zealand Day be regularised and held on the Monday of the week in which 6 February falls.
The Bill also repeals the Waitangi Day Act 1976, meaning that the weekend of New Zealand Day would be the only occasion on which the national day commemorations took place, and that there would no longer be any separate celebration for Waitangi Day.
Hon Peter Dunne
New Zealand Day Bill
Member’s Bill
Contents
1 Title
2
Commencement
3 Purpose
4 New
Zealand Day to be a day of commemoration
5
Observance of New Zealand Day
6 Act to bind
the Crown
7 Repeal
The Parliament of
New Zealand enacts as follows:
1 Title
This Act is the New Zealand Day Act 2004.
2
Commencement
This Act comes into force on the
day after the date on which it receives the Royal
assent.
3 Purpose
The purpose of
this Act is to make provision for the observance of 6
February in each year as a public holiday to commemorate
both the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi and New Zealand’s
national identity.
4 New Zealand Day to be a day
of commemoration
In commemoration of the
signing of the Treaty of Waitangi on 6 February 1840, and to
celebrate New Zealand’s national identity, 6 February in
each year is to be known as New Zealand Day.
5
Observance of New Zealand Day
New Zealand Day
must be observed as a public holiday throughout New Zealand
on the Monday of the week in which it falls.
6
Act to bind the Crown
This Act binds the
Crown.
7 Repeal
The Waitangi Day
Act 1976 is repealed.
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