Following the passage of the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852 by the British Parliament, New Zealand was divided into six new provinces in 1853, the southern part of the South Island was part of the Otago Province.

Settlers in Murihiku, the southernmost part of the South Island purchased from Māori in 1853 by Walter Mantell, petitioned the government for separation from Otago.

[3] It was named Southland despite the wishes of many settlers and Māori, who preferred Murihiku.

By the late 1860s, most settlers wanted to become part of the Otago Province again, and this was achieved in 1870.

Founded: 1 April 1861 [1] New Zealand law provides an anniversary day for each province.