Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Day

Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Day was a one-off public holiday of New Zealand on 26 September 2022. It was made to mourn the death of Elizabeth II. Prime minister Jacinda Ardern said that it was a way to allow the community to pay their respects.[1] It was treated as a public holiday under the Holidays Act 2003: employees received a day off, and schools were closed. The opening of shops and sale of liquor was not restricted.[2][3][4] The day passed into law on 20 September 2022 under the Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Day Act 2022. The act was introduced on 19 September and received assent on 21 September.[3][5]

On the same day as the holiday, a State Memorial Service was held in Wellington Cathedral of St Paul.[1] National mourning went from the death up until the end of the memorial service.[1]

The holiday fell on the same day as the South Canterbury Anniversary Day. Because two holidays were on the same day, local authorities had the option of moving South Canterbury Anniversary Day. Employees only got one day off despite two holidays falling on the same day. This is under s44 Holidays Act 2003.[2] Three local authorities in South Canterbury held polls to decide on how this issue should be addressed. After 8,000 responses, they determined that the day be temporarily moved to 11 November, which was the same day as Canterbury Anniversary Day.[6]

Closures

In Auckland, libraries, community centres, research centres, and arts centres closed. Most council facilities either closed or operated with reduced hours. In Wellington, all council pools, recreation centres and libraries closed. The Wellington Cable Car and ASB sports centre had reduced hours. In Christchurch and Hamilton, city and council libraries closed.[7]

Rubbish and recycling collection days were shifted back a day in Auckland.[8] The due dates for payments to the New Zealand Customs Service were also delayed by a day.[9]

References
  1. "NZ's one-off public holiday to mourn Queen's death – all you need to know". NZ Herald. 3 October 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  2. "Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Day". mbie.govt.nz. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  3. "Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Day Bill passes into law". The Beehive. 20 September 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  4. "Public holiday to mark passing of Queen Elizabeth II". Employment New Zealand. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  5. "Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Day Act 2022". legislation.govt.nz. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  6. "New Zealand's special national holidays". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  7. "What will (and won't) be open on Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Day?". RNZ. 23 September 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  8. OurAuckland. "Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Day in Tāmaki Makaurau". OurAuckland. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  9. "Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Day". www.customs.govt.nz. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
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