When is Westland Anniversary Day?
Though Westland is no longer a province, Greymouth and Hokitika commemorate a provincial anniversary on the Monday nearest to December 1st to mark December 1st 1873, when Westland split from Canterbury Province.
Greymouth is in Gey District and Hokitika is in Westland District, both of which are in the West Coast region on New Zealand's South Island.
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 regions covered are set by provincial district (as they stood when abolished in 1876), plus Southland, the Chatham Islands, South Canterbury and Northland.
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.
