Pages tagged with: joseph ward

On 26 September 1907 the colony of New Zealand ceased to exist. It became, instead, a dominion within the British Empire.

On 6 November 1908 Prime Minister Joseph Ward ceremonially opened the North Island main trunk line by driving in a final polished silver spike at Manganuioteao, between National Park and Ohakune.

Joseph Ward (1856–1930) cut a debonair figure on the political scene with his tailored suits and carefully waxed moustache.

This clip tells the story of New Zealand's adoption of dominion status in 1907. It contains images and sound of Prime Minister Sir Joseph Ward reading the proclamation on 26 September that year and film of Dominion Day celebrations outside Parliament and at Newtown Park in Wellington, taken in 1907 or 1908.

Prime Minister William Massey and Joseph Ward inspect the New Zealand Cyclist Corps.

The proclamation on 26 September 1907 announces the 'Colony of New Zealand to be styled Dominion of New Zealand'.

Reading the proclamation of New Zealand's dominion status, 1907

Joseph Ward takes his place on the government benches as prime minister in 1906. The mace, donated by retired Speaker Clifford in 1866, lies on the Table of the House.