Sabin Mike: Holidays (Full Recognition of Waitangi Day and ANZAC Day) Amendment Bill — In Committee 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Sabin Mike: Holidays (Full Recognition of Waitangi Day and ANZAC Day) Amendment Bill — In Committee 
[Sitting date: 27 March 2013. Volume:688;Page:9004. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
MIKE SABIN (National—Northland) 
: 
 I find it a little ironic that the member resuming his seat Dr David Clark is asking for the support of the Prime Minister and then sets about beating him around the head with a frozen fish as to his rationale. It does exemplify what we have seen so often from the Opposition which is “the beatings will continue until morale improves” approach to garnering support. 
I think it is actually a very very fine balance that is looking to be achieved. I certainly do respect the views of parties that are supporting this Holidays (Full Recognition of Waitangi Day and ANZAC Day) Amendment Bill and I can actually see why. I do not think we would have to go too far to find out why the honest Joe on the street is going to think that having another long weekend is not a bad idea. But I think for me where this discussion lands is really the significance and importance of those 2 days. Waitangi Day the founding day of the New Zealand that we know and Anzac Day which has come to be a time of some sombre reflection and commemoration for those who have lost their lives in the service of the freedom that we all enjoy today are things that as an ex-serviceman I feel very very strongly about. I know that that is a view shared by many across the RSAs many of those returned servicemen but also their families and their loved ones around them and that to me is where the balance needs to rest. 
An argument has been raised around the fact that if Anzac Day for example fell on a Saturday that would in no way be devalued by the fact that the following Monday would become a holiday. Well I think the law of the jungle would suggest otherwise and people would see the opportunity to lash the kayak to the roof rack put the trailer on and head for the beach and so on and so forth. 
Hon Annette King 
: Is that what you’d do? 
MIKE SABIN 
: I do not have to Ms King; I live at the beach so feel free to come and visit at some stage. I believe that that member’s caucus sometimes comes up to see what Northland is all about by having fish and chips at the Mangonui Fish Shop having a few photos and leaving again so feel free to call in to my house just down the road when you do. You will notice that I do not need to lash the kayak on the roof rack because it is already sitting there on the side of the beach. 
But coming back to the bill— 
Hon Annette King 
: But why are other New Zealanders so dumb if that’s what they’re going to do? 
MIKE SABIN 
: It is not a question of New Zealanders being dumb. I think that the argument being run by the Opposition is a futile one. I think that the bill actually deserves a better discussion. When I think about the importance of those days Anzac Day and Waitangi Day and the significance of those days as a member of Parliament for Northland I can vouch for the importance of Waitangi Day certainly to locals but I believe also to all New Zealanders. It is a day of significance. So the balance becomes whether this devalues those days. My belief is when talking to servicemen the people who fought for the country that that is how they see it. If it is just simply because hard-working Kiwis deserve another day off then I think that balance tips too far. No one wants to deny Kiwis the opportunity of a day off— 
Iain Lees-Galloway 
: You do. 
MIKE SABIN 
: No that is not the case. But it is around the context in which we are doing it and using these 2 most significant days for New Zealand as the meat in the sandwich to achieve that purpose. I do not believe that that balance has been met. 
It was absolutely pointed to by the leader of that member’s party this afternoon at question time when he questioned the Prime Minister as to why the tourism industry was so supportive of this bill. Why would tourism be so interested in supporting the bill? Because tourism is about holidays. Tourism is about relaxing going away and enjoying oneself. That very question actually points exactly to the argument that I believe we are advancing that there is a very real risk that in Mondayising we lose the value and the significance of the commemoration of those days. Are people seriously going to celebrate Anzac Day on a Saturday and then somehow—I do not know. What happens to the Monday? I do not think so. As I said the balance becomes those who fought for the freedoms that this country enjoys and the founding of this nation. We should not devalue those days.