as 2.6

The growth of New Zealand identity 1890–1980

Imperialism, indigenous peoples and the emergence of new nations: the growth of New Zealand identity 1890–1980

Case study: Dominion status

Related link on NZHistory.net.nz

• Dominion status

Topics include:

• the meaning of dominion status
• becoming a dominion
• the first Dominion Day
• demise of Dominion Day
• changes after New Zealand became a dominion.

On 26 September 1907 the colony of New Zealand ceased to exist. New Zealand became a dominion within the British Empire. What really changed as a consequence of this can inform the debate about the evolution of political independence in New Zealand. This can be used to explore the NCEA Level 2 topic 'The growth of New Zealand identity 1890–1980’.

Historians agree that the switch from colony to dominion meant no real change, so why did New Zealand become a dominion? Using the feature Dominion status, complete any or all of the following activities that examine some of the arguments for and against New Zealand seeking dominion status.

1. Letter to the Colonial Office

In 1907 New Zealand’s prime minister, Sir Joseph Ward, visited London for an imperial conference. While there, he raised the idea of New Zealand becoming a dominion.

Imagine that you are Sir Joseph Ward. It is May 1907, and you are writing to Lord Elgin of the Colonial Office outlining why you believe New Zealand should be granted dominion status. Your letter must summarise the key arguments for New Zealand becoming a dominion and should be no more than 300 words in length.

Refer to the media gallery for the feature Dominion status to complete the following activity:

a. According to the New Zealand Gazette notice declaring dominion status, who was the King at the time of this proclamation?

b. According to this proclamation, on whose request was the decision made to adopt the title ‘dominion’?

c. On what date did the King agree to the switch from colony to dominion?

d. What evidence can you find in this proclamation to suggest that the granting of dominion status meant little in terms of real change for New Zealand? Cite particular words or sentences.

Using the feature Runs on the board - New Zealand cricket and Cricinfo complete the following activities.

1. How many times has New Zealand made the final of the men's World Cup?
2. When did the New Zealand women's team win the World Cup?
3. Name the grounds being used for the 2007 men's World Cup?
4. When did New Zealand host the men's World Cup?
5. When did New Zealand win its first cricket test match (men
   

Using the feature Dominion status, complete the following activities that examine how Dominion Day was initially celebrated (or not):

1. How did the government celebrate the first Dominion Day in 1907?
2. What evidence was there that not all New Zealanders shared the government’s enthusiasm for Dominion Day?
3. Imagine you are a reporter for the newly launched Dominion newspaper. You are writing an account of the Dominion Day celebrations in Wellington that will be offered to other newspapers in New Zealand.
   

Using the feature Runs on the board - New Zealand cricket and some of the other material available from the Sports category of NZHistory.net.nz, complete the following activities.

1. Class discussion

Sport is taken very seriously in this country (despite fears that we are becoming fatter and less active), and the success of New Zealand's major teams like the All Blacks and Black Caps can have a great effect on the mood of the nation. Consider some discussion questions with your class around the broad theme of sport and its place in New Zealand society.

Use the feature Dominion status and your own knowledge and ideas to help you write the following practice essay for achievement standard 2.6: examine individual or group identity in a historical setting.

Introduction

On 26 September 1907 the colony of New Zealand ceased to exist. New Zealand became a dominion within the British Empire. For a few years, some New Zealanders celebrated Dominion Day on 26 September with parades and public events. Debate soon emerged as to whether becoming a dominion truly represented any significant change and whether it was an important milestone in the development of a distinctive sense of identity for New Zealand or New Zealanders.

This page broadly outlines how teachers and students of social studies and history could use the feature on Passchendaele: fighting for Belgium. The feature is of great value to teachers and students working at various levels.

New Zealanders in Belgium

New Zealanders fought in Belgium during the First World War as part of the Western Front campaign. This campaign saw massive battles fought along a line stretching some 700 kilometres from Switzerland to the Belgian coast. New Zealand’s experience on the Western Front has been overshadowed by stories of Gallipoli and Anzac Day, but in the overall context of the war, the Western Front was more important. While 2700 New Zealanders lost their lives at Gallipoli in 1915, considerably more – 12,500 – were killed on the Western Front. Despite the focus on Gallipoli, French and Belgian placenames like the Somme, Messines and Passchendaele hold a special place in the family histories of many New Zealanders. These battles were the deadliest in New Zealand’s military history.