South Canterbury Day in 2025

When is South Canterbury Day?

This provincial holiday is observed in South Canterbury, New Zealand.

Also known as Canterbury (South) Anniversary Day or Dominion Day, It is celebrated on the fourth Monday in September.

History of South Canterbury Day

South Canterbury Day is held to mark Dominion Day. On 26 September 1907, the colony of New Zealand was granted Dominion status within the British Empire, when Prime Minister Ward read the proclamation from the steps of the General Assembly Library in Wellington.

This first Dominion Day was a public holiday across New Zealand. Today, South Canterbury is the only region in New Zealand that still marks the occasion.

The dominion status of New Zealand ended in 1945, when the country joined the United Nations, though the 1907 royal proclamation of dominion status has never been revoked and remains in force today.

South Canterbury is the name given to the area of the Canterbury Region of the South Island of New Zealand and is bounded by the Rangitata River to the north and the Waitaki River (which also marks the border with the Otago Region) to the south.

Note that in Central and North Canterbury. South Canterbury, Christchurch Show Day is a public holiday for provincial anniversary day on the second Friday after the first Tuesday of November. It may seen strange for a province to have two anniversary days, but since many of the regions celebrate provinces that were abolished in 1879, it's not worth worrying about.

Provincial Days in New Zealand

The Holidays Act 1981 specifies each locality observing a Provincial Anniversary Day to celebrate the founding days or landing days of the first colonists of the various colonial provinces.

However the exact dates are not legislated for. The actual observance days can vary even within each province and is due to local custom, convenience or the proximity of seasonal events or other holidays. This may differ from the official observance day, and may be several weeks from the official day.