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The official unveiling of the French Memorial at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park on May 4th reinforces New Zealand’s close relationship with France.
French Memorial unveiling at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park
Great music inspires great dance this winter, as the Royal New Zealand Ballet brings works by two of the greatest choreographers of the 20th and 21st centuries to New Zealand stages, together with an exciting new commission from New Zealander Corey Baker, the first ballet ever created in the frozen wilderness of Antarctica.
RNZB's Dancing with Mozart
Internationally renowned tenor Simon O’Neill returns home to perform a special series of concerts with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra in June. An Evening with Simon O’Neill in Hamilton, Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin and Wellington will be the singer’s debut orchestral performance of Richard Wagner’s famous song cycle the Wesendonck Lieder.
Kiwi tenor superstar Simon O’Neill is back with the NZSO
The Wellington Jazz Festival returns, 6–10 June 2018, to host an exciting line up of modern jazz greats, including six-time Grammy Award–winner and Director of the legendary Newport Jazz Festival, Christian McBride. Jazz bassist McBride, who has collaborated with heavyweights from Sting to James Brown, will bring his talented new quartet Christian McBride’s New Jawn to open the Festival in style on Wednesday 6 June at the Opera House.
Modern jazz greats confirmed for Wellington Jazz Festival in June
Take part in the Tū Move movement. A unique and inspiring dance experience for young Maori and Pacific Island men aged 14-18. Join NZSD for a three day weekend workshop in hip-hop, street and contemporary dance.
Graduates return to run New Zealand School of Dance Tū Move Programme
Exceptional New Zealand artists Billy Apple, Fred Graham, Bill Manhire, Maualaivao Albert Wendt and Dame Gillian Karawe Whitehead have been awarded the Arts Foundation of New Zealand's highest honour, the Arts Foundation of New Zealand Icon Award – Whakamana Hiranga.
Icon Awards 2018: Five new Icon Award recipients announced
A world first sensory experience will be officially opened at The Great War Exhibition to the public on Saturday April 14. Set at Quinn’s Post, a tenuously held frontline position on the Gallipoli Peninsula, visitors will enter another world of the grit and hardship experienced by New Zealand soldiers during this ill-fated campaign.
Peter Jackson uses cutting edge technology to bring Quinn’s Post Trench Experience to The Great War Exhibition
Once the guns fell silent on 11 November 1918, communities went to monumental lengths to remember those who had served and died in the First World War. WW100 New Zealand has put together some resources to help you discover the history and significance of the 500 or so memorials that still cover our landscape.
Monumental – Understanding New Zealand's First World War memorials
In 2019, New Zealand will mark 250 years since the first meetings between Māori and Europeans during James Cook and the Endeavour's 1769 voyage to Aotearoa New Zealand. Funding is available for community projects that align with the kaupapa of Tuia – Encounters 250.
Tuia - Encounters 250 Lottery Grants funding

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Kāinga Te tuakiri, te taonga tuku iho o Aotearoa Ngā whakamaharatanga me ngā huritau

Commemorations & anniversaries

In 2014, the Government updated its earlier commemorations policy, agreed in 2009/10 in recognition of the need for a co-ordinated approach between agencies to mark particularly important events and anniversaries, and to ensure better forward planning for these big events.

The updated commemorations policy categorises these anniversaries as either Tier 1 or Tier 2 national events. The Tier 1 list consists of anniversaries of events which had a significant impact on the nation as a whole or on the pattern of New Zealand life; an example being the 100th anniversary of the First World War.

The Tier 2 list is made up of anniversaries of events which were highly important but not of the same nation-changing magnitude. Nationally-significant anniversaries, whether Tier 1 or Tier 2, typically refer to anniversaries that are a multiple of 25 (25th, 50th, 75th, 100th anniversaries, and so on). 

Visit the Commemorations 2014-2020 page to view the full listing of events.

 

The following events for 2018 were authorised by the Government in 2014. Please note that this is an indicative list and may be subject to review.

2018 Tier 1 events

125th anniversary of women's suffrage (1893)

 On 19 September 1893 the Electoral Act 1893 was passed, giving all women in New Zealand the right to vote.  As a result of this landmark legislation, New Zealand became the first self-governing country in the world in which all women had the right to vote in parliamentary elections. Learn more about this commemoration being led by the Ministry for Women here.

100th anniversary of the battle at Le Quesnoy  - National Commemoration to be held in France (1918)

100th anniversary of Armistice - National Commemoration to be held at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park (1918)

Tier 2 events

175th anniversary of the Wairau incident

150th anniversary of the start of the fighting between Crown forces and the forces of Titokowaru and Te Kooti

150th anniversary of New Zealand becoming the first country to introduce nationwide standard time

100th anniversary of the influenza pandemic

50th anniversary of the sinking of the Wahine. The Wahine 50 Trust organised a number of events for the commemoration on 10 April 2018 - more details are here.

Centenary of the First World War commemorations

Dates for key New Zealand domestic and overseas commemorative and ceremonial events which will be marked during the First World War centenary from 2014 to 2019 were announced by former Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson in September 2013.  Relevant media releases include the following:

First World War centenary military commemoration dates announced

WW100 First World War Centenary Programme announced

Additional commemorations

Details about various New Zealand historic events and anniversaries can be found on our NZHistory and Te Ara —The Encyclopedia of New Zealand websites.

NZHistory

Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Raa Maumahara National Day of Commemoration will be held on October 28th each year. The first inaugural event took place in 2017. Visit Te Puni Kōkiri's website for more details about Te Pūtake o te Riri | Wars and Conflicts in New Zealand Fund.

Te Pūtake o te Riri | Wars and Conflicts in New Zealand Fund

Updated on 12th April 2018