Shearer David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Personal Explanation—Comments Made at Environmental Defence Society Conference 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Shearer David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Personal Explanation—Comments Made at Environmental Defence Society Conference 
[Sitting date: 25 July 2012. Volume:682;Page:3883. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
1. 
DAVID SHEARER (Leader of the Opposition) 
 to the  
Prime Minister 
: Does he stand by his statement “My expectations are that this will be a busy hard three years’ work and we will need to deliver results for New Zealanders”? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister) 
: 
 On this side of the House yes and on the other side of the House I am sure that David Cunliffe is very busy. He sees it as 3 years of hard work and is sure it will deliver a result. 
David Shearer 
: Will he and his caucus deliver results for hard-working New Zealanders by supporting David Clark’s bill to have a day off on the Monday when Waitangi Day and Anzac Day fall on a weekend? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: No. 
David Shearer 
: Does he agree with Tourism Industry Association chief executive officer Martin Snedden who said “Creating long weekends will boost New Zealand’s economy in relevant years by stimulating domestic tourism.”; if not why not? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: No. 
David Shearer 
: Does he agree with Judith Collins that having a public holiday the following Monday undermines Anzac Day and Waitangi Day commemorations? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: I think the Minister makes a very fair point. 
David Shearer 
: Does he understand that hard-working New Zealanders think it is fair to have a holiday on the Monday when the public holiday falls on a Sunday? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: I understand the concerns New Zealanders might have. I also understand the issues at stake. There are many people who would feel very very strongly that Mondayisation would be taking away potentially from those very very significant days. Let us say this—[ 
Interruption 
] They are baying like a bunch of banshees but you had 9 years in Government and you did not do anything about it. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! Before I call Leader of the Opposition I say that the Speaker did not have the last 9 years in Government. 
David Shearer 
: In light of his last answer could he answer how Christmas Day in 2010 was undermined by having a holiday the following week; and on that basis would he consider taking Monday away when Christmas Day falls on a weekend? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: I can understand why David Shearer is focused on Christmas Day because that is the only day that David Cunliffe takes off from plotting. [ 
Interruption 
] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! I think some attempt to address the question should be made. 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: I gave it my best shot. If one looks at the issue of Mondayisation yes there will always be a range of views. But I think there are many New Zealanders who would say that when it comes to Waitangi Day and Anzac Day they are very significant peculiar days to New Zealand and therefore the honouring of those days when they occur makes sense. I know the Labour Party members want to take a holiday; it is pretty obvious from the amount of work they do not do. And good news: you are in for a lot longer holiday than you are planning. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! I hope the Speaker is not in for a lot longer holiday than he is planning. [ 
Interruption 
] Enough said.