New Zealanders debate whether the Queen’s Birthday holiday is still relevant

Queen’s Birthday has no relevance to modern New Zealand and should be replaced with Matariki Day, says Lewis Holden from Republic New Zealand.

“And changing the day to celebrate Matariki would be a good way to bring New Zealanders together,” says Lewis.

Matariki is celebrated as the Maori New Year and takes place around May and June.

But an expert on the constitution  says Queen’s Birthday should be kept.

Perhaps there is still some relevance,  says Sean Palmer from Monarchy New Zealand.

“It serves a purpose as an important reminder to how well our constitution is performing,” says Mr Palmer,  who has a PhD from Auckland University for researching the role of the constitution.

Queen’s Birthday itself is manufactured as the Queen’s actual birthday is on April 21.

The Queen’s great grandfather, Edward Vll, who was born in November during the English winter, moved the celebration to June in the English summer – so better weather might grace the event.

But of course that is winter in New Zealand, making it a cold and often wet break.

“It is a holiday that not even local councils organise events for. It is not even a holiday in the United Kingdom,”  Mr Holden says.

However, other countries celebrate their heads of state, Mr Palmer says.

“America used to celebrate both Lincoln and Washington’s birthday before squashing the two into what is now known as Presidents’ Day.

“It is certainly something we should not get rid of, but if the next monarch’s birthday is in the [southern] summer perhaps we could move the day and have Matariki day as well.”