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A ground-breaking New Zealand television series launched on Thursday 23 January 2020 to what is being described as one of the largest ever international audiences for a New Zealand television production
Unique New Zealand The Dead Lands Launches
Beatrice Faumuinā is newly appointed to the Sports and Recreation New Zealand board (Sport NZ). An Aucklander of Samoan descent Beatrice Faumuinā ONZM represented New Zealand in discus at four Olympic Games and five Commonwealth Games. After winning a World Track and Field title in 1997, she took back to back gold medals at the 1998 and 2002 Commonwealth Games and was the New Zealand Team Captain and flag bearer at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Beatrice Faumuinā joining Sport and Recreation New Zealand Board
The Kamupene D Rua Tekau Mā Waru (D Company 28th Māori Battalion) Trust and Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage are intensifying efforts to complete the D Company history book and need help.
Help required to complete D Company 28th Māori Battalion history
In 2020, it is the 10-year anniversary since the waka taua (war canoe) Te Hono ki Aotearoa (The Link to New Zealand) was ceremonially gifted, on permanent loan, to the Museum Volkenkunde, the Netherlands Ethnology Museum in Leiden. This is the only waka taua in the Northern Hemisphere. To raise awareness of this unique intercultural partnership, the Netherlands Embassy is organising in February three events across the country.
Waka Te Hono ki Aotearoa connects Dutch and Māori cultures
Commemorations marking the largest signing of the Treaty of Waitangi are taking shape - and everybody is invited. Wednesday February 12 will mark the 180th anniversary of Governor William Hobson meeting with rangatira from the Hokianga regarding the Treaty of Waitangi.
Plans for Mangungu Tiriti Commemorations underway
A multi-Grammy Award winner, a YouTube sensation & an internationally acclaimed Kiwi conductor feature in the NZSO’s all-star 2020 concert line-up.
NZSO excels in 2020 with Grammy winners, YouTube star, te reo Beethoven
Venture down the rabbit hole, lose yourself in the Hallway of Doors, take part in a digital Mad Hatter’s Tea Party and play at the Queen’s Croquet ground this summer in Wonderland at Te Papa. The exhibition celebrates the rich screen history of English author Lewis Carroll’s timeless stories, which have been the subject of more than 40 films and over 30 television programs
Wonderland at Te Papa
A new fund opened today will support Pasifika artists based in Aotearoa to collaborate with communities in Oceania to research, develop and present their art.
Moana Nui a Kiva Fund a new opportunity for collaborative arts projects between Aotearoa and Oceania
Tuia 250 has unleashed an unstoppable desire to keep moving forward and continue the kōrero about who we are, say the co-chairs of the Tuia 250 National Coordinating Committee, Dame Jenny Shipley and Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr.
Tuia 250 Voyage ends but Tuia - Our Future is Unstoppable

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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 2020 were authorised by the Government in 2014. Please note that this is an indicative list and may be subject to review.

2020 Tier 1 event

75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War (1945)

Tier 2 events

175th anniversary of the start of the Northern War

100th anniversary of New Zealand sending its first official team to the Olympics

100th anniversary of New Zealand attending the League of Nations and the 75th anniversary of signing the United Nations Charter

100th anniversary of the opening of the Alexander Turnbull Library

25th anniversary of New Zealand joining the World Trade Organisation.

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 6th January 2020