“Matariki”

[kiwithrottlejockey]

Agreement prompts royal holiday rethink

By STEVE KILGALLON - The Dominion Post | 9:26AM - Sunday, 02 June 2013

THE Republicans and the Monarchists finally agree on one thing: it might be time to re-name the Queen's Birthday holiday.

The Republic Movement suggesta renaming the holiday Matariki, after the Maori New Year, saying that would better reflect what New Zealanders actually celebrate in June.

Their chairman, Lewis Holden, said you only need to consult the weather forecast to see its irrelevance to regular Kiwis.

"We have it at the start of June because it's good weather in England for parades ... that shows you how relevant the monarchy is to New Zealand when it coincides with our worst weather."

The Queen's official birthday is celebrated on different dates in May and June in various countries, although not Fiji, which abolished the celebration in 2012. The Queen's actual birthday is on April 21st.

Surprisingly, and perhaps for the first time, Monarchy New Zealand president Sean Palmer said he agrees with Holden.

"I actually don't have a problem with a holiday in June being called Matariki — but my caveat would be that the next king's [Charles'] birthday is in November, and we could have a public holiday to mark it. If there was a mood for it, I see no issue with it."

The Republicans commissioned a new poll to coincide with the public holiday they said shows they are slowly winning the argument for dumping the monarchy.

While 52 per cent of Kiwis still support it, Holden said the numbers are the other way around for those under 30, with 52 per cent in favour of a republic.

That shows the Royals' days here are numbered, he said. Older Kiwis are less likely to want change, and only 34 per cent of those over 60 support a republic. "We are definitely looking at the trends and they are pretty positive," said Holden.

Palmer said that figure was "out of step" with other polls which showed the young were second only in their enthusiasm for the royals to the elderly.

Holden believes last year's Royal tour by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall failed to boost popularity for the Royals despite the $1 million price tag, but he was expecting an uptick if Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge were to bring their new baby here.

While 48 per cent of those who supported the monarchy said that was because they believed the current system worked, Holden said that meant just 24 per cent overall agreed with that sentiment, "which suggests the public are generally quite cynical; we had assumed it would be a lot higher".

But Palmer dismissed the findings." ...we'd measure the mood of the nation on more than just one poll." The survey of 967 New Zealanders was carried out by pollsters Curia.

www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/8747281/Agreement-prompts-royal-holiday-rethink

[Peter Lewis]

Presumably all NZ republicans are at work today?

[kiwithrottlejockey]

Today is just another working day for me, but with the added perks of higher pay, and a lieu day to be taken at my pleasure at some point in the future. I was rostered to work a 10½-hour shift today, but the trains are running to a weekend timetable, so I only have to do a single return trip to Wellington and therefore only work 5½-hours. However, I still get paid the 10½-hours I was rostered to work, but at the higher rate in accordance with my employment contract. And I'll make sure I take that lieu day (that I worked 5½-hours to get) on a day when I am rostered to work 10½-hours so that I will be paid 10½-hours for it instead of the nominal 8-hours it is worth. Isn't life grand?

As to whether or not I am a republican or a royalist, I don't really have any views one way or another. However, if the first weekend in NZ didi become Matariki holiday, then when Charlie becomes king, we had another official holiday weekend in Novemeber or some other time, I wouldn't object. I'd still end up working it anyway, but with those additional perks.

[kiwithrottlejockey]

Jun 3, 2013 9:05:37 GMT 12 Peter Lewis said:

Presumably all NZ republicans are at work today?

Presumably all the non-religious are at work all day on Christmas Day and right through Easter Weekend?

And presumably non-trade-union members don't observe Labour Day?

And people who think the Treaty is a load of rubbish don't observe that day as a holiday?

[Peter Lewis]

Jun 3, 2013 12:36:59 GMT 12 kiwithrottlejockey said:

Today is just another working day for me, but with the added perks of higher pay, . . . I will be paid 10½-hours for it instead of the nominal 8-hours it is worth. Isn't life grand?

I don't blame you personally for taking what is on offer, but where does the the money come from to fund all that?

Passengers? The taxpayers?

[kiwithrottlejockey]

It is all part of the costs (spread out over an entire year) of operating that business.

I could refuse to work today (under the Holidays Act, that is my right), but I choose to continue working on the days I was rostered to work anyway and take the additional perks.

Plenty of my workmates take the view that they would prefer the paid public holiday off with their families, so serve written notice on the company of their intention to take it off (as os their right in accordance with the Holidays Act), and the number doing this is increasing year by year. Eventually, if the current trend continues, trains will be getting cancelled in Wellington on public holidays due to insufficient staff prepared to work on those holidays. I understand NZ Bus are in the same situation with their bus drivers in Wellington and the Hutt Valley.

However, back to the cost of public holidays. I am always bemused by cafes and restaurants which slap a surcharge on their wares on public holidays. It's strange how transport operators don't put surcharges on their costs on public holidays, nor do service stations up the price of fuel on holidays, nor do supermarkets up the price of groceries on holidays, etc. They seem capable of incorporating costs on an annual basis instead of bleating like many café and restaurant owners do. Personally, if I see a surcharge is in effect at a café or restaurant on a public holiday, I walk right past them and go to an establishment that doesn't indulge in this RORT.

[ngatimozart]

Comes out of the operating budget

[shamus]

What we need is 3 paydays a week and 4 Sundays. Hours, 12 to 1 including an hour off for lunch.

[Peter Lewis]

I used to employ six people.
That meant that I, personally, was responsible for coming up with xxxx dollars each and every week no matter what in order to pay their wages/salaries.
Unless you yourself have actually been in that situation, you can never comprehend the pressure.
One day I realized I was being foolish.
So, as each of them left for various reasons over the years, I did not replace them, just downsized things a bit.
My last salaried employee finished up in February.
So now I don't employ anybody any more.
Instead I have tenants, those who must pay their rent for every day regardless if it is Christmas Day, Easter Friday or Shrove Tuesday.
I no longer have that pressure.

Of course, there is six less jobs in the economy, but hey that's not my problem is it?

[ngatimozart]

It's a business cost and really don't see where the hospitallity trade get off on it. There are 10 stat holidays a year and you should be able to work that cost into your overall costings. It was done before 1990 so what's the difference since 1990? I understand the pressures of being a business owner but it's part of being in business.

[ErrolC]

Labour costs triple approximately on public holidays. Labour is a high proportion of costs in cafes etc, and many of their other costs are fixed (e.g. rent). So the actual additional cash received for trading on a holiday can be quite small (or even negative). Some close, some decide to absorb it, some charge extra. So long as they make it clear as you walk in the door, it isn't a rort.
It is of course your right to decide to not to visit them, but to declare the practice immoral is wrong IMO.

Sent via Proboards Android App

[htbrst]

I think part of what FlyerNZL is getting at is that KTJ is getting extras over and above what normal run-of-the mill employees at other organisations are entitled to who are also working today - be it extra leave or being paid for hours not actually worked. As Kiwirail is publicly owned those costs are born by the taxpayer.

[ngatimozart]

KTJ is just utilising the conditions that are contained within his employment contract. I used to work for the same employer when it was Tranzrail and had to work the odd statuatory day, but in my case it was overtime not an RDO.

[ErrolC]

Jun 4, 2013 18:51:16 GMT 12 ngatimozart said:

KTJ is just utilising the conditions that are contained within his employment contract. I used to work for the same employer when it was Tranzrail and had to work the odd statuatory day, but in my case it was overtime not an RDO.

Compensating for holidays will always interact in sometimes-odd-looking ways with shift work. Until moderately recently (latest revision to the Holiday Act I think) you didn't usually get overtime for holidays, even it you usually worked it.