Kiwi Kids News- Make Matariki a holiday

Last week up and down the country people celebrated Matariki, the constellation rose on 25th June, beginning a month of celebration and recognition of the end of one year and the start of the next. It a chance to celebrate all that went on in the last year, to give thanks for food, family, friends and all that we have, and an opportunity to look ahead to all that next year will bring. But being so close to the Queen's birthday- for which New Zealanders get a day off- there are suggestions that there should be a public holiday to recognise such an important occasion, After all, the new year in January gets a public holiday.