Why New Zealand Should Make Diwali A State Holiday

California is moving towards recognising Diwali as a public holiday. New Zealand should do the same. For more than 300,000 Indians who live here, Diwali is the most important day of the year.

It is a time to be with whānau, honour our elders, share delicious food with neighbours, and recommit to learning, kindness, and hard work. It is the celebration of light overcoming darkness and hope overcoming fear, values that belong to all New Zealanders. Diwali has been celebrated in our Parliament since 2010, and our cities host large, family-friendly events that draw people of every background.

In practice, the festival is already part of the national rhythm. Making it a State Holiday would bring policy into line with our lived reality and send a clear message about who we are as a nation.

For many Kiwi Indians, Diwali also marks the new year. Homes are cleaned, diyas (lamps)are lit, accounts are balanced, and prayers are offered for wisdom and prosperity that benefit the wider community.

We visit parents and grandparents, forgive old grievances, donate to charity, and open our doors to friends and colleagues. Family-owned businesses set goals for the year ahead. Schools use classroom activities to explore themes of knowledge, self-discipline, and generosity. Councils plan festivals that showcase music, dance, rangoli art, and regional cuisines.

A State Holiday would simply allow families to celebrate together without having to choose between cultural observance and work, business or school.

A Diwali holiday would serve the whole country. Public holidays are civic signals that strengthen social cohesion. Matariki has shown how a well-designed day of observance can deepen understanding and bring people together.

A national Diwali day would do the same by inviting everyone to join a celebration of renewal, learning, and service. It would support family wellbeing because Diwali falls on a weekday most years. Without a holiday, parents work while children celebrate at night or on a weekend, or vice versa.

Aligning the observance to a national day reduces stress and lets families and communities celebrate in step. It would also boost local economies. Diwali festivals  drive foot traffic and spending. A predictable national holiday would help businesses plan events, promotions, and community activations across hospitality, retail, arts, and tourism.

Most importantly, it aligns with our national brand. New Zealand prides itself on fairness and inclusion. Recognising Diwali is a confident statement about the diverse threads that make up Aotearoa and shows the world that we celebrate difference.

Concerns can be addressed with straightforward policy design. Any public holiday has costs, but festivals stimulate spending and domestic travel, and clear periodic breaks can improve productivity and morale. With good planning the net effect can be positive, especially for small businesses that lean into Diwali programming. Recognition of Diwali does not diminish other communities. Our calendar already reflects our heritage and values through Waitangi Day, Anzac Day, and Matariki.

Government could pair Diwali with a fair framework for all, such as a floating cultural observance day for employees who wish to observe Eid, Lunar New Year, Vaisakhi, or other significant days. The date changes each year, but so does Easter. Publishing observance dates at least five years ahead would give schools, businesses, and essential services the certainty they need.

There are practical options. Parliament could legislate a full State Holiday on the lunar-calendar date, Mondayised if it falls on a weekend.

It could set observance on the closest Friday or Monday to create a long weekend for national events while supporting rituals on the actual day. It could combine a Diwali State Holiday with one floating cultural day for every employee to ensure equity and flexibility across workplaces. Any option should be supported with clear guidance for payroll, rostering, public events, and school calendars.

Implementation is straightforward. Legislate with a three-year ramp, confirm the holiday, and publish observance dates five years out while aligning school assessments to avoid clashes. Support councils and organisers to co-fund safe, sustainable, and inclusive regional festivals with vendor training and simple toolkits. Create classroom resources that link Diwali’s themes to the New Zealand Curriculum. Measure outcomes across participation, visitor spend, community sentiment, and wellbeing, then refine based on evidence.

Diwali already belongs to New Zealand. Our Parliament has marked it for years. Our streets fill with lights and colour. Our neighbours join in. A State Holiday would recognise the contributions of Indian New Zealanders and invite the whole country to share a celebration that champions humility, generosity, learning, and hope. California’s move adds momentum, but our case stands on its own. This is about the nation we (Indians) call home, one that honours its many stories, gives families time to be together, and turns shared values into shared traditions. It is time for New Zealand to make Diwali a State Holiday and choose the light together.

Narendra Bhana, Immediate Past President, New Zealand Indian Central Association Inc (NZICA)