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Dominion Day

Events In History

26 September 1907

Prime Minister Ward read the proclamation to a smallish crowd from the steps of the General Assembly Library in Wellington. This first Dominion Day was a public holiday.

Articles

Dominion status

On 26 September 1907 the colony of New Zealand ceased to exist. It became, instead, a dominion within the British Empire. Read the full article

Page 1 - Dominion status

On 26 September 1907 the colony of New Zealand ceased to exist. It became, instead, a dominion within the British

Page 2 - Becoming a dominion

New Zealand had its own reasons for wanting to become a dominion. Premier Sir Joseph Ward hoped the term ‘dominion’ would remind the world that New Zealand was not part of

Page 3 - The first Dominion Day

The first Dominion Day, 1907, was a holiday for public servants as all government offices closed to mark the occasion.

Page 4 - Demise of Dominion Day

Dominion Day, 26 September, never really took hold in New Zealand. Wellington was one of the few places that kept up ceremonies after

Page 5 - What changed?

What changed when New Zealand became a dominion in

Page 6 - New Zealand in 1907

What was New Zealand like when it became a

Page 7 - Dominion status symposium, 2007

Read and hear the papers from the Dominion status symposium held at  Parliament Buildings on Dominion Day - 26 September

Page 8 - Further information

Links and books relating to Dominion