By Tova O’Brien
Despite National's best attempts, Labour's "Mondayising" bill is set to become law.
It is all due to Peter Dunne, who has gone from zero to hero – just last month he was being vilified by anti-asset sales protestors, but now he is the man who will ensure Kiwis get every public holiday in the calendar.
His vote is the clincher for the Labour Party bill which will give workers Monday off if Waitangi Day or Anzac Day fall on a weekend.
Mr Dunne says the vote was an easy decision for him.
“I think it is popular, I think it's sensible and I think it's long overdue,” he says.
However leader of the house Gerry Brownlee says National will not be supporting the bill.
“Is National going to support the Mondayising bill? No.”
Mr Brownlee walked away when asked why not.
Labour MP David Clark says it makes no sense for National to vote against the bill.
“I don't understand why he doesn't want hard-working Kiwi families not to get these days off,” he says. “It's only two days every seven years.”
But National MP Judith Collins says there will be a cost to employers and raises concerns it could detract from the days’ significance.
“Anzac Day is not a holiday, it's a day of mourning and commemoration,” says Ms Collins.
The bill is set to pass its first reading tomorrow.
3 News