New Zealand’s Ministry for Arts, Culture and Heritage has announced a new program aimed at giving greater emphasis to a number of historical anniversaries occurring over the next five years.
Some anniversaries are to celebrate milestones in the development of New Zealand’s national identity, such as 75 years since the 1951 waterfront dispute (pictured) and the centenary of the nation’s relationship with the Ross Dependency in Antarctica.
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, Carmel Sepuloni said the program would also be an opportunity to reflect on past injustices in order to create a better future.
“For example, in 2024 we will mark 50 years since the start of the Dawn Raids on Pacific peoples,” Ms Sepuloni said.
“In 2025, we will commemorate the 1975 Māori Land March from Te Hāpua in Northland to Wellington, led by Dame Whina Cooper, to protest land laws which had a devastating impact on Māori.”
She said the nation’s artistic identity would be highlighted with the 50th anniversary of the first novel by a Māori author, Witi Ihimaera’s Tangi, and the 75th anniversary of the first wholly New Zealand-produced record, Ruru Karaitiana’s Blue Smoke.
“Our Government’s commemorations program is one opportunity we have to enhance New Zealanders’ understanding of the stories, culture, identities and communities that make up our nation and are important to mark and recognise,” Ms Sepuloni said.
“With this commemorations program, we encourage New Zealanders to walk into the future informed by our past.”
Wellington, 12 July 2022
