The government's choice of next Monday to honour the late Queen forced three councils to consider shifting their anniversary holiday. Photo: CAROLINA RAPEZZI
South Canterbury councils have all voted in favour of moving their regional public holiday which clashes with the Queen's commemoration.
The Waimate, Mackenzie and Timaru District Councils were told to make their own decision about whether to move the South Canterbury Anniversary Day, which is scheduled for 26 September.
The councils jointly surveyed the public on whether to move it or not, with the proposition to shift it to Canterbury Anniversary Day on 11 November.
Of the 8270 survey respondents, 86 percent supported the change.
Today, the three councils all voted and decided to shift the date to be in line with Canterbury Anniversary Day.
Waimate District Council chief executive Stuart Duncan said councillors were concerned about the strain on businesses an extra holiday would cause, but decided to take direction from the survey.
"The councillors were very sensitive to the fact that employers need to fund the pay difference between a normal day and opening their business on a public holiday, which can put a bit of pressure on them."
The strain would be felt nationwide due to the additional holiday, regardless of a calendar clash, he said.
"The fact that the Crown had nominated a day of memorial for Queen Elizabeth II on the 26th meant that the same challenge for businesses existed for the rest of the country."
Timaru District Council unanimously voted to move the day while acknowledging it would have an impact on businesses.
Timaru Mayor Nigel Bowen said there was understanding generally with the business community that the region's anniversary day was moved this year so worker's could have an extra day off.
He told Checkpoint the government could have done more to make the extra public holiday for the Queen's death easier for councils to organise.
"Initially we felt like we got the hospital pass... Could it have been another day, a Sunday or Thursday when it wasn't going to align [with South Canterbury Anniversary Day] - yeah they could've but hey it is what it is and we've worked through it."
He confirmed South Canterbury Anniversary Day would go back to its usual date in 2023.
Councillor Gavin Oliver said he spoke to businesses in his Geraldine ward ahead of the vote.
"Most businesses said 'look, it's a bit swings and roundabouts. Yeah, we acknowledge that we have to maybe pay a bit extra for staff but we're hoping for a bigger roll up crowd obviously for our day with people on holiday'.
"So I'm taking the consensus from our business community, I'd say that we'll be in favour of changing the holiday day."
The Mackenzie District Council also voted to observe the anniversary on 11 November.
"We will now pass this on to (the) Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment so they can make the appropriate arrangements."
