A swap option's being suggested as a way of handling proposals to have the country's land wars marked with a National Day.

The Government announced last week it's looking into the idea following discussions with the Maori Party.

Labour Leader Andrew Little believes there's an argument to be made to look at existing provincial public holidays and see if they serve a purpose anymore.

He said who cares that up until 1863 Taranaki had its own provincial government, or Canterbury, Wellington or Auckland did?

"They're all areas where there have been significant land wars and casualties as a result. Perhaps we turn those provincial holidays into days and days off where we commemorate and mark the land wars that happened in those regions."

Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei says other days with Maori connections, such as Matariki and Parihaka day, should be considered as well.

"And I think there is an important conversation about marking critical moments in Maori history in the same way we mark critical moments in Pakeha history, in this country."