Story: Immigration regulation

Waitangi Day, 1973

Labour Prime Minister Norman Kirk’s speech on Waitangi Day in 1973 was notable for several reasons. He announced that the commemoration of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi would in future be a public holiday, to be known as New Zealand Day. The name change was intended to ensure that all New Zealanders, regardless of ethnic background, would regard the occasion as their national holiday. When the first New Zealand Day was celebrated in 1974, much was made of the fact that New Zealand had acquired several other large ethnic groups. There were later objections that the name change obscured the historical significance of the occasion, and in 1976 the name Waitangi Day was reinstated. Hear Norman Kirk make his announcement in 1973.

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How to cite this page:

Ann Beaglehole, 'Immigration regulation - 1946–1985: gradual change', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/video/1380/waitangi-day-1973 (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Ann Beaglehole, published 8 Feb 2005, updated 1 Aug 2015