This telegram announcing that the United Kingdom had declared war on Germany was received in New Zealand at 11.45 p.m. on the night of 3 September 1939. At that point New Zealand followed suit, and backdated its declaration to the same moment when the United Kingdom had declared war (9.30 p.m. on 3 September). It has sometimes been suggested that New Zealand declared war ahead of the UK, on account of its time zone being 10 and a half hours ahead of British Summer Time – but this is not true. Two days later, 5 September, Prime Minister Michael Joseph Savage formally announced New Zealand's involvement and affirmed that the country would support Britain in his famous phrase, 'Where she goes, we go; where she stands, we stand.'
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Reference: 31615
Image: Archives New Zealand – Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga, G 5 114 1658/39 1939
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