MPs have given mixed responses as to whether they'd like a special public holiday introduced as a way to inject money back into the tourism industry after the COVID-19 lockdown.
The Project's Jeremy Corbett has been actively campaigning for a national 'GOOT Day' or 'Get Out Of Town Day' encouraging Kiwis to discover more of New Zealand.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Tuesday introducing an additional public holiday was one of many ideas the Government was "actively considering".
ACT leader David Seymour said New Zealand "absolutely" needs another public holiday.
"Jeremy Corbett's a voter in the Epsom electorate so all he needs to do to get me to put up his Private Member's Bill is keep me in Parliament," said Seymour, MP for Epsom.
Green MP Gareth Hughes said it had been a "pretty tough" couple of months for New Zealand.
"I think this is a really cool, really awesome idea," Hughes said.
"Do I support a Get Out of Town Day? Heck yes I do," Labour MP Kiritapu Allan added.
Duncan Webb, Labour MP for Christchurch Central, said he was "very happy" to support the idea.
"I know that tourism and hospitality do really well out of long weekends," added Labour MP Tamati Coffey. "I'm behind that."
Green Party leader James Shaw said a longstanding Green policy had been for an extra public holiday at Matariki.
Newshub national correspondent Patrick Gower has also called to make Matariki a one-off public holiday this year.
But National MP Gerry Brownlee said he didn't think there would be a politician "bold enough" to tell people to be away from their workplace for longer, having already been off work due to New Zealand's COVID-19 lockdown.
"I don't support another public holiday," said Todd McClay, National's economic development spokesperson.
"Everyone I'm talking to says they, really, really want to get back to work."
New Zealand First MP Mark Patterson agreed, saying he was keen to get back to "business as usual".
But Corbett's push for New Zealanders to have a day of discovery has gained support from thousands online
"My message to Kiwis is come and experience your own backyard and come and experience the culture and hospitality here in Aotearoa," Ardern said on Tuesday.
