It’s great that our local MPs are questioning why our provincial holiday is Auckland Anniversary Day. To come up with a holiday that better reflects our location and gives a meaningful background for celebration.

I think our provincial name itself is a great cause to celebrate. In 1769 James Cook’s recognition of the Bay’s abundance of natural resources, the generosity of food and water supplies and the friendliness of the tangata whenua all contributed to his summation that it was “A bay of much plenty”. There is little in our colonial history that serves to unify our people, but in our provincial history we have this gem.

I’d like to suggest the following future holiday: Leave the holiday date as it is.Rename the day as “The Day of Plenty”. Emphasis for celebration being given to provision and sharing of food and drinks; and include special recognition of the generosity of welcome afforded by Māori. In summary, a day to take pride in our wonderful Bay not just another Monday off.

Peter Dawson, Bethlehem