O'Connor Simon: Holidays (Full Recognition of Waitangi Day and ANZAC Day) Amendment Bill — Third ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeO'Connor Simon: Holidays (Full Recognition of Waitangi Day and ANZAC Day) Amendment Bill — Third Reading[Sitting date: 17 April 2013. Volume:689;Page:9478. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]SIMON O’CONNOR (National—Tāmaki): I am very pleased to rise to speak on the Holidays (Full Recognition of Waitangi Day and ANZAC Day) Amendment Bill. The previous member Jan Logie was talking about small elements. I think what is important is that she mentioned a few details but of course missed the wider context. People have been talking about Australia and holidays and so on. Well in Australia just to look at a few facts they have eight public holidays a year and 20 days off by right. In New Zealand of course we have 11 days off not 8—we have 11. If this bill passes through we will move to 12 or 13 public holidays along with 20 days off. The US has only nine public holidays and no mandated leave. Canada—just across the border of course for those geographically challenged—has nine public holidays and only 10 mandated days of leave.So New Zealand already has 11. We have more public holidays than all those other countries. We have more public holidays—a small detail for the Greens—than Australia. If we pass this bill then we move to have even more public holidays. That can be right or wrong but it is a context that does make New Zealand less competitive in a global environment. It is really important that we provide the full context. So to themember who just resumed her seat “curmudgeonly” can be an excellent word I have to say. Personally I feel that the word “Mondayisation” is a crime against the English language and I feel terrible to even use it. But we need obviously to touch all the details. It is very important.I do not really want to get on to the economic front as well because those who have heard previous speeches of mine will know they have played more on the principle but the other side of it too is that there are always costs to decisions that are made. So we have heard here in the House today and it was from Grant Robertson in his initial speech that—Grant Robertson: A brilliant speech!SIMON O’CONNOR: Well it was a speech I will give it that. He said we should be giving and encouraging more holidays. We hear also from Labour the Greens and other parties that there is more we have to do we have to pay people more money and there have to be more opportunities. Whether that is right or wrong is one question but the other is always to admit there is a cost. Where there are more holidays where there is more pay someone has to pay that price.Andrew Little: And there are also benefits.SIMON O’CONNOR: Kiwis have to pay that price. Yes—I acknowledge the interjection from Andrew Little—there are benefits too. But there are also costs which need to be acknowledged.I do not support this bill. The reason remains very simple as I said from my first speech and that is that Anzac Day and Waitangi Day are not excuses for holidays. I think it is important for everyone to understand. It has been iterated in the House a few times that of course Anzac Day and Waitangi Day are holidays. It is not as if they are not going to be or will be more so; they are holidays be they on a Tuesday a Thursday a Saturday or a Sunday and that remains. We will be able to attend our services and so on. But this has become a bill that wants to use those days of commemoration to be an excuse for a day off. When we listen to the Opposition it does not take long at all before tourism barbeques and other commercial enterprise usages kick up. I invited the Opposition in my second reading speech—and this is an important point—to say to me: “Look we want to have a discussion about more holidays.” Then let us have that discussion. Let us have that discussion. I said: “Let’s not use Anzac Day and Waitangi Day as an excuse but if we want to talk about more holidays come and have a chat with me.”Sue Moroney: But they’re already holidays.SIMON O’CONNOR: Here we are—and one of the Opposition members has yelled out that they are already holidays. Yes that is right; they are already holidays. This bill is saying that we should use those existing holidays—those days of commemoration—as an excuse for more holidays. I reject that. I say: “Come up with better ideas.” They should come up with better ideas. But to date not one person from the Opposition—not one person from the Opposition—has come to talk about an opportunity to create new holidays. No they are more than happy to use these days of commemoration in this way. And it will harm them. It does make changes to mindsets.Principles are important. Consistency is important. That is lost on the Opposition members too when they are saying that these are just the same—these days are just the same as Christmas Day or Easter. They are not. They are not. Days like Christmas Easter and so on are days of festivities. One needs just to look at the etymology of where the words come from. They are days of celebration. But these days Waitangi Day and particularly Anzac Day are days of commemoration. We have the ability already in law in statute and by convention to undertake these days of commemoration. This bill uses this as an excuse to create more. The Opposition yellsup and down that it might be only every so often but that is not the point. If you are a person of principle then you stick to principles and you stick to consistency. That is the key operating here.In a few days’ time many of us right across the House will of course be undertaking our Anzac Day obligations and duties with a heartfelt desire and I am sure that goes right across the House. I am very much looking forward to joining the people of Tāmaki down in St Heliers Bay. We have a little war memorial there on the bay for a young man. I think it is for Guyon Brookfield who used to be a Scout troop leader who died in the First World War. A number of us right across Tāmaki from all the different communities will come together on the 25th to remember that day. I think it is important to acknowledge that the day does remain a day of commemoration. To be honest I do not expect any of those people in my electorate standing there at the memorial to say: “Oh Simon you know I wish we had an excuse for another day off.” It is not going to happen.We do not need this piece of legislation. What we need as I have offered and suggested before is a free and frank conversation. If we want more holidays then let us have that discussion. Do not use Anzac Day. Do not use Waitangi Day. Just remember of course what we began with. My colleague David Bennett fine chairperson that he is has noted that New Zealand already has an incredibly good deal on holidays in comparison with other countries in the world. We are a great country. We already have our systems well in place. I do not support the passage of this bill. I ask the members of the Opposition to stand with a lot of Kiwis who have written to me and others I am sure to say leave Anzac Day as it is. Leave Waitangi Day as it is. Let them remain as days of commemoration. I am proud and happy to not support this bill and in doing so support our veterans.