The Holidays (Full Recognition of Waitangi Day and ANZAC Day) Amendment
Bill or, as it is more commonly known, the “Mondayisation Bill”, looks likely to stutter into law with full support from opposition parties.
It is interesting that the disruption to productivity and an estimated $200 million impost to employers every time Waitangi or Anzac Day falls on a weekend does not appear to be a valid argument to oppose the bill. Even the Nats that stand alone opposing this populist bill, are suppressing the impost to business argument in favour of the more politically correct line that Mondayisation would dilute the importance of Waitangi Day and in particular ANZAC Day if a three-day weekend was indroduced.
While mainstream business groups oppose the bill, there is the irony that the Tourism Industry Association (TIA) that represents a wide array of tourism businesses support the bill along with Labour, the Greens, NZ First, The Maori Party, United Future, Mana...and Brendan Horan.
Ignoring the fact that tourism businesses rely on a productive, vibrant economy in order to thrive, maybe the TIA should be advocating that we have a three day break EVERY weekend to encourage more Kiwis to support the tourism businesses they allegedly represent?
PM/Tourism Minister John Key dismissed the TIA's self-serving support for the bill in the house yesterday as "The very people that promote holidays, want the thing...."
The video is worth a look as Key makes a mockery of David "Mumbles" Shearer's inept performance that includes flaunting TIA's support.
Tomahawk
