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Kōrero: First World War

The British lion and his cubs aroused

Image
The British lion and his cubs aroused

As this cartoon from 1914 suggests, most of Britain's former colonies followed the lead of the 'mother country' in participating in the war. In New Zealand sentimental attachment to Britain, its importance as a market for New Zealand's exports and the country's dependence on the British Royal Navy for defence of trade routes meant that there was overwhelming support for Britain.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: C-10764

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.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Ian McGibbon, First World War – Origins, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/cartoon/34102/the-british-lion-and-his-cubs-aroused (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Ian McGibbon, i tāngia i te 16 April 2012.