Story: Nation and government

Celebrating Dominion Day (2nd of 2)

Celebrating Dominion Day

New Zealand became a dominion just six years after it decided not to join the Australian federation. The lights that decorated Parliament Buildings when dominion status was proclaimed (using new-fangled electricity) spelled out an optimistic slogan reflecting confidence that New Zealand could make progress on its own.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Watt Collection
Reference: 1/2-080522; F

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

John Wilson, 'Nation and government - From colony to nation', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/2458/celebrating-dominion-day (accessed 27 April 2024)

Story by John Wilson, updated 1 Sep 2016