Westland, Nelson and South Canterbury are among the 12 regions of New Zealand that have their own regional anniversary days. But the Bay of Plenty, and everywhere north of Hawke’s Bay, gets lumped in with Auckland. Is it time we carved out a long weekend with our own Bay flavour? Kelly Makiha asks locals and leaders what they think.

It’s time to ditch Auckland’s coattails and celebrate a day dedicated to the Bay of Plenty – unashamedly described as the best region in New Zealand.

That’s the view of Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell, who has the backing of his National Party colleague over the road, Rotorua MP Todd McClay. Both are calling for a new Bay of Plenty Anniversary Day – although not necessarily on a different day to when we already celebrate.

Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell. Photo / Alex Cairns

Auckland Anniversary Day is officially January 29, although it falls on a Monday near that date to ensure holidaymakers get a long weekend.

While some regions in New Zealand have their own anniversary day, the Bay of Plenty and most of the North Island are lumped in with Auckland’s day.

New Zealand has 12 anniversary days. There are four different anniversaries in the North Island (Auckland, Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki and Wellington), seven in the South Island (Marlborough, Nelson, Canterbury, South Canterbury, Westland, Otago and Southland) and the Chatham Islands.

Northland celebrates Auckland Anniversary Day but calls it Northland Anniversary Day.

Rotorua MP Todd McClay. Photo / Andrew Warner

Rotorua MP Todd McClay said it was time something similar happened locally and he was prepared to facilitate the change if it would be something locals supported.

“We should consider a name change to Bay of Plenty Anniversary Day or weekend or, better still, Rotorua Anniversary weekend.”

But McClay was conscious not to add to costs for local businesses.

“The existing Auckland Anniversary could be renamed, with the holiday being on the same day. If this is something that local people saw merit in, we could consider a local or members’ bill as it would take a change of law.”

Uffindell said the Bay of Plenty was a proud provincial area and the best region of New Zealand.

“We need our own anniversary day that’s named after us ... We don’t want to ride the coattails of Auckland anymore. We like them coming here [over] the long weekend and pumping money into the economy, and we are thankful for that, but we should have an anniversary that represents the Bay of Plenty.”

Uffindell said it could develop into a day to be proud of.

“No one wants to see big signs going up like they do at this weekend saying, ‘Celebrate Auckland Anniversary Day’.”

Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale didn’t respond to requests for comment and Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell didn’t want to comment.

Western Bay of Plenty Mayor James Denyer. Photo / Alan Gibson

However, Western Bay of Plenty Mayor James Denyer said the Bay of Plenty celebrating Auckland Anniversary was a throwback to the old system of provinces in New Zealand from the 19th century.

“While that is now just an interesting historical oddity for us in the 21st century, I think the important thing for our residents is that our anniversary day falls at the perfect time of the year for an area popular with holidaymakers and blessed with some of the best beaches and outdoor attractions in the country.”

He said having the anniversary day in late January extended the summer season and “book-ended” the holiday period.

“I would not want to change the date, but we could simply call it Bay of Plenty Anniversary Day in our region.”

Ngāi Te Rangi chief executive Paora Stanley. Photo / Alex Cairns

NgāiTe Rangi chief executive Paora Stanley agreed, saying it was time the Bay of Plenty was no longer attached to Auckland Anniversary Day.

“Why don’t we call it BOP Family Day – it will then remind us of our biggest asset, our whānau and our loved ones.”

Provincial anniversary days are observed locally by custom and practice and are generally prescribed by regional or city councils. These provinces relate to the former provinces of 19th-century New Zealand and are not determined by present-day districts or regions.

How does change happen?

A Local Government New Zealand spokesman pointed NZME inquiries to central government, saying the holidays are for the pre-1876 provinces – not modern regions.

“So this may need changes to legislation to enable different regional days to be created, which are subsets of historic[al] provinces,” the spokesman said.

There was no clear power for local government to alter the dates of the current provincial anniversaries. The Holidays Act was administered by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and that ministry would need to clarify what councils in a historic province should do to make changes, he said.

But a spokeswoman from Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden’s office said the responsibility lay with councils, citing the Employment NZ website, which said anniversary days were observed locally by custom and were the responsibility of regional or city councils.

However, McClay said he had made inquiries with his ministerial colleagues who advised a change could be made either by the Government or a local bill.

He said his colleagues were willing to look at it if the Bay of Plenty wanted to pursue a name change from the existing Auckland Anniversary Day.

The history of Auckland Anniversary Day

In 1841, Lieutenant-Governor William Hobson decreed January 29 would become Auckland’s anniversary, marking the day in 1840 when he arrived in the Bay of Islands.

According to the Auckland Council website, members of Hobson’s team then sailed down the coast, arriving in Auckland on September 18, 1840.

The group included Surveyor-General Felton Mathew and his wife Sarah, a prolific diary-keeper. The preliminary agreement for the purchase of the site of Auckland was signed with Ngāti Whātua leaders on the same day and the new settlement of Auckland was established as the capital of New Zealand.

Many people associate Auckland Anniversary Day with the Auckland regatta, with the first held on that same day in September. After the flag was raised, cannons were fired in salute and toasts were made to the Queen; boat races were held between sailors, government officials and Māori, the council’s website said.

Sarah Mathew recorded the events of the day: “As it was wished to make this somewhat of a holiday, the gentlemen got up a boat race among themselves, another for the sailors, and a canoe race for the natives, which all came off with great eclat.”

For the next few years, horse races were held at Epsom on January 29, but in 1850 another sailing regatta was held. The Auckland Regatta has been held every year since, except for 1900, when it was cancelled due to the South African Boer War.

Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist who has reported for the Rotorua Daily Post for more than 25 years, covering mainly police, court, human interest and social issues.