QEII public holiday gets mixed dealer reaction

New Zealand will mark Queen Elizabeth II’s death with a state memorial service and one-off public holiday on Monday September 26, says prime minister Jacinda Ardern.

Dealerships intend honouring the occasion, although Winston Peters reckons the one-day holiday will cost the country about $400 million.

Genuine Vehicle Group director and general manager Hayden Johnston says it will cost New Zealand businesses (as employers of New Zealanders, the taxpayers and the generators) during a time of record inflation.

“This is the last thing we need. This is a vote gathering and popularity building exercise by a Government that has no idea what it takes to earn our money they are spending.”

Johnston says the Queen was an amazing woman and lived a life of service to her people – “there will never be another like her but I guarantee she wouldn’t want this holiday taken in her name”.

However, Christchurch EV City owner Dave Boot says their business model is not adversely affected by a change like this.

“Those who need to buy a car on the 26th but can’t, will probably buy on the 27^th,” he explains.

“This is the ‘box-checking’ society we live in. Small changes like this can either be interpreted as ‘another blow’ to the employer or a chance to take the kids for a walk in the hills.

“We can’t waste our energy objecting to everything that doesn’t suit us, we have climate change to tackle.”

Ardern says that as New Zealand’s Queen and a much-loved sovereign for more than 70 years, “it is appropriate that we mark her life of dedicated public service with a state memorial service (Wellington Cathedral of St Paul, televised and livestreamed) and a one-off public holiday”.

The one-off holiday will be called Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Day, and legislation will be passed next week to bring the holiday into force which will qualify under the Holiday’s Act.

Ardern confirms she will represent New Zealand, alongside the governor-general, at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in London, so will leave New Zealand on September 14, then travelling to New York for the United Nations General Assembly on September 19 where she will also co-host the Christchurch Call Summit alongside French president Emmanuel Macron and deliver New Zealand’s national statement.