After a previous ship discovered the Wellington area in September of 1839 and decided it would make a great spot for a new town, they sent for the settlers, who arrived on 22 January of 1840.
The newcomers were greeted by Maori, and no violence broke out. But in honor of the victor of the Battle of Waterloo, the town was renamed “Wellington” in November of 1840.
When it comes to commemorating Wellington’s anniversary, there is no shortage of public events and celebrations in the city, and many of them are one-of-a-kind.
We can’t help but mention the Birdman Competition, held annually at Taranaki Street Wharf, in which participants “fly” off the end of the wharf and into the harbour while dressed as birds.
Celebration of Wellington’s Anniversary In Its History
Many contemporary cultures can trace their origins back to pioneering explorers looking for the ideal place to plant permanent roots. These pioneers were drawn to the area because it offered the best combination of security, shelter, food, and pleasant weather for their families.
The various people who had settled in the area at various times in history gave it various names before settling on the name Wellignton. It is believed that the Maori people were the first to settle the area, and that they gave it the name “Te Upoko o Te Ika a Maui,” which translates to “the Head of Maui’s Fish.”
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Although Kupe was the first known European to set foot on these shores in the 10th century AD, it was the native Tara who gave these territories their current name, “the Great Harbor of Tara.”
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Wellington Anniversary Day Celebrates
The colonisation of the area that is now Wellington, which began with the arrival of the first European settlers. In 1840, settlers arrived on the ‘Aurora,’ effectively giving the New Zealand government control of the entire area.
On Wellington Anniversary Day, locals reflect on the city’s long and storied past and the epic journey that brought their ancestors to the area as settlers. It honours the long and eventful history of the city and its inhabitants, as well as the many significant steps forward they’ve taken as a whole.
It’s a fantastic day, full of confidence, joy, and a healthy respect for one’s own and others’ individuality and belonging. ceremony, and from that point on, the anniversary of Wellington’s founding has been celebrated annually.
According To Wikipedia,
The Wellington province included almost the entire southern half of the North Island, from near the Cook Strait to near Hawke’s Bay.
Before the 1850s, there was no such thing as Hawke’s Bay. The Manawatu River serves as a reference point for some locals when deciding which holidays to celebrate.
However, there is potential for misunderstanding when a local company is actually a branch of one with its headquarters in either Hawke’s Bay or Manawatu.
Take Hawke’s Bay as an example. Naturally, today is in Hawke’s Bay, but in Dannevirke we celebrate the Wellington Anniversary rather than the Hawke’s Bay Anniversary.
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One business, at least in his knowledge, celebrates both Wellington and Hawke’s Bay anniversary days, and he acknowledged that this was something of a quandary given that Dannevirke was geographically located between the two regions.
He speculated that there must be other cities facing the same problem. For as long as the town endures, “the argument will always be there.”
A local business owner complained that the cost of attending on both days was too much, suggesting that splitting the event into two parts might be more cost-effective.
When asked, one law firm told Hawke’s Bay Today that they no longer celebrate both anniversaries but still do so for Wellington Anniversary.
Bryce Galloway, head of the Dannevirke Chamber of Commerce, thought it was important for the city to mark the Hawke’s Bay anniversary. He reasoned that since it was always the Friday before Labour Weekend, people would then have a four-day weekend.
Property Brokers Dannevirke owner and Tararua District council member Kerry Sutherland concurred.He said most of Dannevirke and the area had celebrated Wellington Anniversary day for a long time.
Somewhere between Norsewood and Waipukurau has always been a hazy dividing line between the Wellington and Hawke’s Bay districts, and both are known for their lively celebrations.
Although Sutherland’s real estate firm traditionally celebrated Wellington Anniversary Day, he noted that they must also be cognizant of Hawke’s Bay Anniversary Day due to its significance in the industry.
I hope that one year we can celebrate the Tararua District’s anniversary. What a fantastic opportunity for branding and district differentiation that would be!
