Monday Holiday Progresses Despite National Opposing

Wednesday, 13 March 2013, 8:12 pm
Article: ParliamentToday.co.nz

Labour MP David Clark has had a rare success in Parliament in getting a bill to make progress against the wishes of the majority party in Parliament.

The Holidays (Full Recognition of Waitangi Day and ANZAC Day) Amendment Bill will mean that in the future when Waitangi and ANZAC Day fall on the weekend a public holiday.

All parties and Brendan Horan except for National and ACT backed the bill meaning it completed its second reading by 61 to 60. It still has to complete its committee and third reading stage.

Earlier the debate on the Finance Committee’s report on the Budget policy statement was completed with National, Maori Party, Act and United Future in favour 63 to 57 for noting the report.

The third reading of the South Taranaki District Council (Cold Creek Rural Water Supply) Bill was completed by 96 to 24 with National, Labour, ACT and United Future in favour

The bill allows for the South Taranaki District Council to transfer ownership of the Cold Creek Rural Water Supply Scheme to back to the community via creating a co-operative called Cold Creek Community Water Supply Limited. This co-operative will look after the scheme that provides water to around 7,620 hectares of land in the Pihama/Te Kiri area in South Taranaki.

The Habeas Corpus Amendment Bill was taken as one question for the committee stage and wrapped up quickly to allow debate to get to the Holidays (Full Recognition of Waitangi Day and ANZAC Day) Amendment Bill and then the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill.

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