"I'm going to make sure everyone on Breakfast knows and celebrates," TVNZ presenter Matty McLean is telling me enthusiastically over the phone.

"I'm standing with you."

McLean's words are music to my ears. My plan to cement International Matt Day on November 29 was reaching dizzying heights with the support of a New Zealand celebrity now behind me.

The creation of International Matt Day had its genesis when I realised there was a National Spaghetti Day, Bean Day, Kiss A Ginger Day, even National Cellar Door day.

It seems like any old person can say "this day is whatever day".

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TVNZ Matty McLean was one of the most supportive Matts on my quest for an official celebration day.

I arbitrarily decided International Matt Day would be November 29, which this year falls on a Thursday - and happens to coincide with the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

To get the ball rolling I joined the popular website Reddit's subreddit, /r/matt - a community for Matts, Matthews, Mathews, Mathias and other forms of the biblical name and gave them the happy news - we have a day of our own.

The New Zealand time zone hampered my efforts, and the post languished. But even the most popular of holidays have shaky beginnings.

Mother's Day was started in West Virginia when Anna Jarvis campaigned for a day set aside for all mothers, the first celebrated in 1908. She later boycotted the holiday, resenting the commercialisation.

NZ's Crate Day was started in 2010 by The Rock radio station presenter Duncan Heyde to celebrate binge drinking and is now one of New Zealand's favourite holidays.

SUPPLIED Presenter Matt Gibb thought every day was International Matt Day.

Spurred by this, I snapped up the domain, internationalmattday.com and threw together an official site to maintain control over the world's newest holiday.

Employment New Zealand told me I would need to speak to my local MP about creating an unofficial 'day', and it would need to go through Parliament if it was to be an official public holiday.

My local MP is Stuart Smith, so I rang Northland MP Matt King instead.

He thought the whole thing sounded like a joke and was gutted November 29 is a sitting day - he didn't have any spare time for Matt-related festivities.

"Always busy, that's the political Matt," King lamented. "I yearn for having a day where I can sit on the couch and talk with my wife."

Needing traction, I started reaching out to famous Matts to let them know of the new international day of celebration.

Matthew McConaughey​, Matt Perry, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Morrison, Matt Groening​ ... they all ignored my best efforts at enticing them to join the celebrations, so I tried Matts a little closer to home.

PHIL DOYLE Matthew Ridge wouldn't support International Matt Day because his name was Matthew.

Former TV personality and sports star Matthew Ridge had never heard of International Matt Day and was insistent his name was Matthew, not Matt, and he had "other things to do".

Matt Gibbs, best known Squirt presenter, was incredibly responsive to the tweet I fired at him.

"Wait I thought every day was International Matt day?"

Well whatever plans I make will have to be made in Minsk, Belarus, where I’ll be filming a story on Junior Eurovision (?!?) for @ABCTV. But I’ll be sure to mark this glorious occasion with the appropriate level of enthusiasm! — Matt Gibb (@Matt_Gibb) November 1, 2018

SUPPLIED Northland MP Matt King said every Matt he had met was a "good bastard."

Then came my positive conversation with Matt McLean, which cemented my belief that International Matt Day could eventually take off. On Friday I anxiously watched Breakfast, waiting for the mention that would never come.

Matt McLean, I forgive you. There's still time - there's a little under a month before the inaugural day of Matt-kind.

Matts of New Zealand, and people who may know someone named Matt, let us unite in celebration on November 29, and lead the international community in yet another world-first.