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Story: Self-government and independence

Queen opens Parliament

Video file

During the Queen Elizabeth's visit to New Zealand in 1953/54 she presided over the opening of Parliament – the first time a monarch had done so. In this clip of the opening she stresses the progress the country had made in 100 years since it gained self-government.

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Archives New Zealand - Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Reference: Pictorial Parade 19. National Film Unit, 1954

Permission of Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga must be obtained before any re-use of this material.

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How to cite this page

W. David McIntyre, Self-government and independence – Towards a republic?, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/video/32955/queen-opens-parliament (accessed 11 June 2026).

Story by W. David McIntyre, published 23 March 2012.