Dominion Day

Dominion Day was a day commemorating the granting of certain countries Dominion status — that is, "autonomous Communities within the British Empire, equal in status, in no way subordinate one to another in any aspect of their domestic or external affairs, though united by a common allegiance to the Crown, and freely associated as members of the British Commonwealth of Nations".

[6] Nonetheless, efforts to resurrect the original holiday name persisted for years, including a "Bring Back Our Dominion Day" campaign launched in the pages of a national newspaper.

[9] In late morning, the Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward read the proclamation from the main steps of Parliament Buildings.

[10] There was no strong emotional attachment to the anniversary, because New Zealand's granting of Dominion status passed largely unnoticed as a symbolic change.

[8] New Zealand historian Keith Sinclair later remarked: "… the change of title, for which there had been no demand, produced little public interest.