Whanganui letters: Matariki, an authentic New Zealand holiday

People gathered at Putiki in the freezing cold to mark Puanga earlier this month. Photo / Leigh-Marama McLachlan

The Government recently announced a new public holiday for the country – Matariki - giving us 11 public holidays.

The intent was to ... we don't know, we were never asked. Our self confessed "democratic socialist" leader now appears to have become an autocratic socialist, dispensing with the need to consult all of the people she was elected to govern.

This extra day comes at a cost of around $50 million, which will come out of the back pockets of the many small businesses that make up our economy. That's okay, they can afford it!

When you look at our list of public holidays, you start to question the relevance of some of them to our country today, given that we now have a new holiday that is supposed to reflect who we are as a nation now.

What is Boxing Day to New Zealanders, other than an extra day off after Christmas Day, paid for by our employers?

It of course reflects our UK origins.

Boxing Day was traditionally a day off for servants and the day when they received a gift from their employer.

The servants would also go home on Boxing Day to give gifts to their families.

We have started to dispense with statues and other parts of our history, so why not this bit?

And the day after New Year's Day – where did that come from?

Maybe the new holiday should replace Queen's Birthday with Matariki, on the date set by the stars.

The relevance of the British monarchy in today's world has waned almost to the point of insignificance so to replace that public holiday with one that has relevance to modern day New Zealand is worthy of consideration.

And then consider adding on one of the others, Boxing Day or the January 2 holiday, to give us all a four-day weekend in the middle of the year and really rev up the celebrations?

Just a thought. Let's all have a conversation about it.

RUSSELL EADES
Whanganui

Climate threat

The Government is caught between a rock and a hard place trying to balance up the ever pressing need for climate change reform while maintaining the support of farmers.

One can argue that climate change, if left unchecked, will have a much more devastating effect on mankind than the virus.

It is happening now.

The Government has to deal with both. All sectors of society have suffered and is suffering.

We must all play our part.

Whether the farmers' part is excessive is open to debate.

Even farmers differ on this.

Hopefully a compromise can be reached but one that doesn't weaken the efforts for climate change reforms.

KEN CARVELL
Whanganui

Mixed message?

Good on the Chronicle for highlighting Dry July! However turning the page to have '6 of the best ' wines maybe showing mixed messages?

S TYLER
Aramoho

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