A cairn is unveiled at Maketū, in the Bay of Plenty, on 2 January 1940 by Frank Langstone, acting native minister. As the inscription on the memorial explains, the cairn actually marked two anniversaries. The first was the 600th anniversary of the landing at this spot of the Arawa canoe, which was said to have occurred in 1340. The second was, in the words of the plaque, 'to a century of great spiritual advancement and wonderful material progress'. The Maketū cairn unveiling was one of seven 'national' events held in different parts of New Zealand to recognise New Zealand's centenary. The emphasis upon the century of progress was a dominant message of the centennial.