Maypole Dance at Peace Day Havelock

Peace Day at Havelock 19th July 1919. View of the Maypole dancers and the public attending. On 12 November 1918, New Zealanders celebrated the news that an armistice had been signed between the Allies and Germany the previous day. After much confusion over the timing and form of the imperial peace celebrations. The New Zealand government agreed to follow the "new" British plan for 1919 - a day of thanksgiving on 6th July and peace celebrations on 19th July - but many communities had already planned events that would run over three days. In the end New Zealand celebrated peace with the rest of the Empire on the 6th and the 19th. But it also held a second day of thanksgiving on the 20th and a children's Day on the 21st.