queen elizabeth

Royal Visit of 1953-54

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  For those New Zealanders who experienced it, the visit of the young Queen and her dashing husband, Prince Philip, to New Zealand in the summer of 1953-54 was a never-to-be forgotten event.

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• Page 2 – Itinerary

  The progress of the royal visit down the length of the country

• Page 3 – Popularity

   Why was the royal visit of 1953/4 greeted with such enthusiasm by New Zealanders?

• Page 4 – The Queen and Māori

   For many Māori the royal visit raised important issues about their place in New Zealand.

• Page 5 – A pastoral paradise

  Following their stay in Auckland and visits to Waitangi, Hamilton and Rotorua, the Queen and Duke had a two-day break at Lake Rotoiti before flying to Gisborne and Napier.

• Page 6 – A loyal people

  As head of the Church of England the Queen laid the foundation stone of the new Anglican cathedral in Wellington, and as head of the Commonwealth's armed forces she laid

• Page 7 – Great place to bring up children

  On the day of the reception for children at Athletic Park, the Evening Post wrote: 'As the mother of two young children 12,000 miles away, the Queen today assumed the

• Page 8 – Remembering the royals

  Memories from around the country of the 1953-54 royal tour to New Zealand

• Page 9 – Later royal visits

  On 30 January 1954 the Gothic sailed from Bluff and after a brief side trip into Milford Sound, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip departed for Australia. They have returned

• Page 10 – Further information

  Recommended books and websites relating to the 1953-4 Royal Tour

History of the Governor-General

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  New Zealand has had a governor or (from 1917) a Governor-General since 1840. The work of these men and women has reflected the constitutional and political history of New Zealand in many ways.

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• Page 8 – Uber diplomat?

  From 1926, in accordance with decisions taken as a consequence of the Balfour Declaration, Governors-General merely represented the sovereign in New Zealand.

Queen Elizabeth II

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  Queen Elizabeth II became New Zealand's monarch on 6 February 1952, following the death of her father, King George VI

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• Page 2 – Constitutional and public ceremonial roles

  The Queen was New Zealand’s head of state. Her title was confirmed by Royal Titles Acts of 1953 and 1974, the latter entitling her ‘Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God

• Page 3 – Royal tours

  About three out of every four New Zealanders saw the Queen as she visited 46 centres and attended 110 functions in 1953-54

• Page 4 – Māori and the Queen

  Māori ‘were primarily concerned to express their loyalty to the Crown and to win acceptance as New Zealand citizens.’ They were just as enthusiastic about the tour as other New

• Page 5 – Changing attitudes to monarchy

  The brief postwar social consensus started to fray from the 1960s. More frequent visits by the Queen and other members of her family probably reduced some of the mystique. At

• Page 6 – Further information

  Links and books relating to the reign of Queen Elizabeth II and New Zealand

Waitangi Day

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  Every year on 6 February, New Zealand marks the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. For most people, Waitangi Day is a holiday; for many, and especially for Māori, it is a time for reflecting on the Treaty and its place in modern New Zealand.

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• Page 4 - Waitangi Day 1960sThe Waitangi Day Act 1960 declared 6 February to be Waitangi Day; a national day of thanksgiving in commemoration of the signing of the Treaty of

State housing

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  New Zealand's first state house was formally opened on 18 September 1937. But the government has provided rental housing for New Zealanders for more than a century. Explore the history of this country's various state housing schemes and their contribution to the New Zealand way of life.

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• Page 7 - State house styleThe design of state houses has been fodder for armchair and professional critics since the beginning. Detractors slagged the first workers' dwellings for being 'too swell' and

Flags of New Zealand

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  The New Zealand flag hasn't always been our official flag. It was adopted in 1902, replacing the Union Jack. Between 1834 and 1840, the flag of the United Tribes was recognised as our first 'national' flag. Waitangi Day 2010 saw the first official recognition of the national Māori flag.

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• Page 5 - Other official flagsSix flags other than the New Zealand flag are flown for official purposes in New

Parliament Buildings

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  Parliament buildings have been modified, destroyed by fire, half-built and restored; the parliamentary places and spaces have formed an important part of New Zealand's history.

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• Page 5 - Doing up the HouseIn 1992 the biggest heritage building conservation project in New Zealand was undertaken with the strengthening and refurbishing of Parliament House and the Parliamentary