How and where to commemorate the Queen this weekend

New Zealand marks the death of Queen Elizabeth II with a one-off public holiday on Monday, to mourn the passing of the longest reigning monarch.

There will be a state ceremony held in Wellington’s St Paul’s Cathedral, alongside services in Christchurch and Auckland.

Public facilities such as community centres and libraries will be closed, but some pools and council-run leisure centres will be open.

As the day is not a religious holiday, shops, restaurants and cafes and other businesses can open, but some will choose to close their doors.

Like any other public holiday, staff who are working are entitled to time and a half, and an alternate day off in lieu.

So don’t be surprised if a cafe has an extra charge at the till or is closed for the mourning day — check ahead to avoid disappointment.

Some attractions, facilities and public places will be closed or working with reduced staff.

Official events

If you are in Wellington you can head along to the Cathedral of St Paul for the 2pm state memorial service for the Queen.

Aucklanders can mark the occasion at a special service for Queen Elizabeth II at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Parnell from 5pm.

Auckland will also go purple for the night with the Harbour Bridge, Eden Park, Sky Tower and Te Ara Whiti — The Lightpath all bathed in the colour associated with the royal family.

In Christchurch the Transitional

Cathedral will hold a special service to honour the Queen at 5pm tomorrow.

Eating out

Various pubs and cafes around the country will have a nod to the Queen with blackboard specials so if you would like to raise a glass to celebrate the Queen, then you’re in luck.

According to a Restaurant Association survey of its members, nearly half will open on the day but for others, the memorial falls on a day they would normally be closed.

Scones with cream and jam and special gin cocktails are the most popular tributes to the Queen mentioned in the survey.

Baches stay empty

Data from holiday letting companies indicates many New Zealanders will be staying close to home.

A spokesperson for the Expedia group said bookings across New Zealand had been “quieter than the Queen’s Birthday long weekend in June but there had been lots of lastminute bookings across holiday homes and hotels.”

BnBs in Queenstown for the weekend are far quieter than on a usual long weekend and room rates are roughly on par with this time last year.

While this may be out of deference to the late monarch, there are also practical reasons.

With just over a week to plan the unexpected public holiday, it appears many Kiwis have chosen not to head away. However this does mean a lastminute long weekend booking could be far better value than peaks seen during Labour Weekend and regional holidays.

The great outdoors

The long weekend may also have some impact on those planning tramps or heading for the hills.

Plenty of Kiwis will be heading outside to enjoy the spring weather, and Mountain Safety Council has issued a warning to hikers.

“Whether it’s a short walk, a day trip or an overnight tramp, take the bare essentials regardless of the forecast,” says MSC’s chief executive Mike Daisley.

Emergency callouts generally spike on public holidays and trampers will have had less time to plan outings.

The forecast is mixed this weekend, with the edge of a highpressure system bringing some wet breaks in generally settled weather.

MetService meteorologist Luis Fernandes tells walkers to expect “bouts of showery weather for most areas”.

Public ski fields at Ruapehu, Mt Hutt and Queenstown will be operating their usual late-season hours.

Auckland and Northland

The Hundertwasser Art Centre in Whang¯arei will be open on Monday, although some of the artist’s flag designs will be flown at half-mast during the Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Weekend.

Other public museums and galleries in the City of Sails will be open and operating with public holiday hours — this includes Auckland Art Gallery Toi o T¯amaki, Auckland Zoo and the New Zealand

Maritime Museum.

The Auckland War Memorial Museum will be open late, from 9am to 5pm and will be lit purple to honour the life of the Queen.

Kelly Tarlton’s Sealife Aquarium and Rainbow’s End will be open but Motat will close on Monday and reopen Tuesday.

Wellington

The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa and City Gallery Wellington will be open to the public as usual, as will Wellington Zoo and Zealandia Te M¯ara a T¯ane. However the Wellington Cable Car will be operating reduced hours, until 6pm, for those planning on heading to Kelburn.

Council-run swimming pools, recreation centres and libraries will be closed to mark the occasion but the ASB sports centre will operate public holiday hours, from 2pm to 9.30pm.

Christchurch

Most of the Garden City’s museums will remain open although some are observing public holiday hours.

The International Antarctic Centre, Orana Wildlife Park, Canterbury Museum, Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, Air Force Museum, Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhet¯u, will be open on Monday.

Christchurch Attractions, gondola rides and trams will be operating as usual. The Antigua Boat Sheds will be operating on reduced hours, with boat hires until 3pm.

Council-run pools and recreation centres will be open but on reduced hours and all libraries will be closed.