Queen Elizabeth II tours NZ

The Queen's Commonwealth tour from Nov 1953-May 1954 included the West Indies, Australasia, Asia & Africa

Queen Elizabeth II & Prince Philip disembark the SS Gothic at Auckland for their NZ leg of the tour, 23 Dec 1953

The Queen toured 46 towns or cities & attended 110 functions in NZ

A NZ National Film crew followed the Royal Tour over the 40 days. (See footage on NZ On Screen, c.25 mins)

The Queen also opened 31st NZ Parliament on 12 Jan 1954 (a role usually carried out by her Governor-General)

The following is a selection of the photos available on DigitalNZ on the Queen's tour throughout NZ

The Queen's Christmas message broadcast from Auckland included the news of the Tangiwai train disaster on Christmas eve

Queen Elizabeth II in Te Awamutu

On 6 Feb, the Queen attended the Waitangi celebrations - the date was also the anniversary of her ascension to throne

Following the Waitangi celebrations, the Queen then toured NZ of which various photos are available on DigitalNZ

The Arts Council (established 1960) was renamed Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council (now Creative New Zealand) in her honour

Queen Elizabeth II opened the New Zealand Parliament on 13 Feb 1963

The Queen, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles & Princess Anne, opened 36th NZ Parliament

Princess Anne & her then husband, Captain Mark Phillips, & Prince Charles accompanied the Queen & the Duke

Queen Elizabeth arrived by limousine for the opening of Parliament in Wellington on 4 Feb 1974

Queen Elizabeth & the Governor General are standing to watch the parade for the Opening of Parliament

The Queen also attended the New Zealand Day events at Waitangi on 6 Feb 1974

Waitangi Day had been renamed "New Zealand Day" in 1974; then reverted to "Waitangi Day" the following year

The Queen & Prince Philip met Scouts during their visit to Palmerston North on 26 Feb 1977

Queen Elizabth II at Timaru during the royal visit

The Queen also officially opened the new Beehive on 28 Feb 1977

Queen Elizabeth & the Duke of Edinburgh were welcomed at palriament by PM Rob Muldoon, 15 Oct 1981

The 1981 Royal Variety Performance was held at the Theatre Royal at Drury Lane in front of the Queen on 18 Oct 1981

Queen Elizabeth met dignitaries at Auckland Airport on 20 Oct 1981

The Queen opened Parliament on 11 Feb 1986

The Queen closed the Commonwealth Games in Auckland on 3 Feb 1990

The Queen also participated in events marking the sesquicentennial of the Treaty of Waitangi

The Commemoration Medal was instituted by the NZ Govt to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Treaty

Queen Elizabeth was appointed a member of the Order of New Zealand & is photographed with other members, 14 Feb 1990

Allen Curnow received the Queen's medal for poetry from Queen Elizabeth II at Government House, Wellington

Queen Elizabeth also visited the Linton Army Camp & opened its new gymnasium complex

The Queen visited Wellington & reopened the refurbished Parliament Buildings on 1 Nov 1995

The Queen inspected the Guard of Honour at Parliament on 1 Nov

During her visiit, Queen Elizabeth delivered the British Crown's apology to Tainui at Government House on 3 Nov

The apology formed part of the Waikato–Tainui treaty settlement, which also included land & financial compensation

The ceremony was attended by Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu

Cartoon: Queen Elizabeth would get into Guinness Book of Records in 14 years time by surpassing Queen Victoria's reign

In 2012, Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her Diamond (60th) Jubilee

In 2022, the Queen celebrated her Platinum (70th) Jubilee. She'd surpassed 63-year reign of Queen Victoria in Sept 2015.