Standing Orders — Definition of Working Day

I move, That Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Day is not a working day for the purposes of the Standing Orders, and that the definition of working day in Standing Order 3(1) be read accordingly.

II’s 70-year reign. This motion is a consequence of the passing of that legislation. It means that within Parliament the day will be treated in the same way as every other public holiday.

On Tuesday, the House passed a bill to create a one-off special public holiday, on the day of the national memorial service that will mark the end of Queen Elizabeth

If we didn’t pass this motion, next Monday, within the parliamentary precincts, would still be regarded as a working day, as defined by Standing Order 3. So therefore, the Office of the Clerk and other agencies within the complex would have to have their people working to process things like written questions and to carry out other functions of a parliamentary working day. With the passage of this motion, they will be free on that day to mark the holiday and to mark the passing of the Queen as they think appropriate, as every other New Zealander will.