A spokesperson for Tony Ryall has denied reports that Cabinet is considering declaring a public holiday to mark the anniversary of the February 22 earthquake that struck Christchurch last year, killing 182 people.
Plans for a civic memorial service to mark the first anniversary of the magnitude-6.3 quake were announced on Monday by the Christchurch City Council, but no mention was made of a public holiday.
But Fairfax NZ earlier today reported that a spokesperson for Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson said the decision would be made by Cabinet when it meets on January 25.
However, the New Zealand Herald is now reporting no such decision is on the cards.
Also, the Canterbury Employers' Chamber of Commerce said a public holiday would be "counter-productive".
Chamber chief executive Peter Townsend welcomed the memorial service, but did not think a public holiday was needed.
He expects business owners will be "very accommodating" towards those wanting to attend the service.
Christchurch mayor Bob Parker said he felt February 22 would not be a holiday.
Families of some of the victims also don't believe a public holiday to mark the anniversary is necessary.
Peter Brown, spokesman for the families of the people who died in the CTV building, says it will be a day that New Zealanders will always remember.
"Firstly, I think everybody in their own way will deal with the issue. I think every year there will definitely be a memorial time anyway, regardless of whether there is a public holiday or not.
"It's not a day that you're going to forget," he says.
NZN / RadioLIVE