The 1940 Centennial 2023: Date, History, Facts about New Zealand

In New Zealand, the 1940 Centenary is commemorated annually on May 4. It commemorates the first century of European settlement. It was a moment of pride for many New Zealanders then and now, and it is still commemorated on New Zealand’s calendars as the day New Zealand became a nation. It may still be considered a youthful nation in comparison to many others, but it is a land of great potential. Today, we can say that New Zealand has, in many respects, realised much of its promise and potential in the modern era.

The background of The 1940 Centennial

Polynesian communities first settled in New Zealand between 1200 and 1300 A.D., when they explored the Pacific Ocean. The first European settlers arrived centuries later, the Dutch in 1642. Abel Tasman discovered and named the island New Zealand. Before there were any fresh European developments, more than a century passed. With Captain James Cook’s arrival, however, the islands of New Zealand became part of the British Empire, and the indigenous Mauri people were subjected to imperial rule.

Nearly a century of relative lawlessness existed on and around the islands. Therefore, in the 1830s, British authorities installed a governor and a British legal system to administer the island. At that time, Mori natives were not officially enumerated and were generally hostile to the arrival and settlement of Europeans, resulting in numerous skirmishes and raids over the years. In 1840, New Zealand’s first governor, William Hobson, travelled the island to meet with Mori chiefs and tribes prior to the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi at Waitangi.

The treaty formally acknowledged the legitimacy of the Mori people and their right to reside on their legitimate land. The Treaty of Waitangi is fundamental to New Zealand’s constitution. The treaty provided the British government with a firm basis for expanding and establishing New Zealand as an international colony. After achieving independence, New Zealand became a major actor in international affairs.

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5 FACTS ABOUT NEW ZEALAND

It is both the national avian and the national fruit of New Zealand.

About 30 percent of the island is designated as a national reserve, which allows New Zealand to preserve its stunning landscape.

Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu, is located on the island’s East Coast.

There are approximately 10 livestock per New Zealand resident. This is because sheep herding is one of the island’s primary economic sectors.

Inhabited for the first time between 1200 and 1300 A.D., New Zealand was the last country or territory to be settled by humans.

THE 1940 CENTENNIAL DATES

Year	Date	Day
2023	May 4	Thursday
2024	May 4	Saturday
2025	May 4	Sunday
2026	May 4	Monday
2027	May 4	Tuesday