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Kiwi of the Week

Bernard Freyberg

A First World War hero and commander of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Bernard Freyberg was British-born but New Zealand-raised. He proved to be a charismatic and popular military leader who would later serve a term as Governor-General

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Today in History

21 January

1944 NZ and Australia sign the Canberra Pact

In the wake of Japan's expansion into the Pacific region during the Second World War New Zealand and Australia looked at working more closely together. The Canberra Pact represented an undertaking by both countries to co-operate on international matters, especially in the Pacific. In particular they agreed to:

consult on matters of common interest
to oppose the placement of military installations in the region
to support the principle of Trusteeship for remaining Pacific island colonies
to set up a Regional Commission with the purpose of advancing the economic, political and social development of the region.

The Canberra Pact was the first treaty signed independently by New Zealand.