Creating a National Spirit: Celebrating New Zealand's Centennial 1940

Creating a National Spirit looks at the ways New Zealanders celebrated their first 100 years: a trade fair in Wellington; commemorations at Waitangi, Akaroa and around the country; a dictionary; an atlas; a series of historical surveys; pictorial surveys; literary, art music and drama competitions; and a centennial film. It examines in detail the Centennial Exhibition— – the architecture, the government courts, overseas displays and ‘Funland’—and how the Second World War affected the planned events.

In examining the events and publications, the contributors paint a vivid picture of New Zealanders and how they perceived themselves and their relationships to the world 100 years after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.

William Renwick organised the Stout Research Centre’'s conference on the 1940 Centennial celebrations and edited this book.