This was done for Northland in 1963 through the Waitangi Day Amendment Act passed by the second National Government.

[1] Labour's Māori Affairs spokesperson, Matiu Rata, had introduced a New Zealand Day Bill in 1971 but this was not passed.

[2] Labour won the 1972 general election and subsequently introduced another New Zealand Day Bill, which passed in 1973.

The creation of a new public holiday was part of the Third Labour Government's programme of creating a distinct New Zealand identity.

[3] The decision to call the day New Zealand Day rather than Waitangi Day was made by various people within the government, including Prime Minister Norman Kirk and his Minister of Māori Affairs Matiu Rata.