On 20 April 1940 there was a national centennial event at Akaroa. Governor-General Lord Galway was welcomed onto the Akaroa Recreation Ground and there was a re-enactment of Captain Owen Stanley raising the Union Jack at Akaroa on 11 August 1840. That moment can be seen in this image. According to press reports, as the flag rose, one Māori murmured, 'Way goes the land' and another followed up, 'Now the Pākehā's got the place.' Later, in the formal speeches, Ngāi Tahu made clear their disappointment at the lack of progress on their land claim.
Using this item
Auckland Council Libraries − Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero o Tāmaki Makaurau, Sir George Grey Special Collections
Reference: AWNS-19400424-34-4
Permission of Auckland City Libraries Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero must be obtained before any re-use of this image.