The question is, did anyone get up this morning thinking ‘hurrah, it’s Labour Day’? Or is this anniversary largely irrelevant to New Zealanders?

Given how few people would actually work a 40 hour work week these days, Labour Day feels largely redundant as a holiday.

Is this the weakest of the flock of public holidays, and re-name it to something else?

Does it resonant with anyone? I’ll be honest, in terms of its resonance with me, I’d have to rate it a big fat zero.

Hawke’s Bay got it right. They take the day off on Friday – it’s their local holiday – and they tie it in with Labour Day, so everyone gets a four day weekend.

Why can’t we have a day like New Zealand Day or Sir Edmund Hillary Day, something where we can celebrate the qualities that we share in common.