Otago Anniversary Day commemorates the March 23, 1848 arrival of the first Scottish settlers on the John Wickliffe and Philip Laing, marking the founding of the Otago settlement. It is a regional holiday for rest and celebration.

When is Otago Anniversary Day?

Otago Anniversary Day is observed on the Monday closest to March 23.

The following is the list of Otago Anniversary Day from 2020 to 2049.

The History of Otago Anniversary Day?

Otago Anniversary Day commemorates the arrival of the first Scottish settlers in Otago. On March 23, 1848, the John Wickliffe arrived in Otago Harbour, bringing the first group of settlers sent by the Free Church of Scotland. A few weeks later, the Philip Laing followed with additional settlers.

These arrivals marked the beginning of organized European settlement in the region and the establishment of Dunedin as the center of the new community. The settlement was envisioned as a planned Scottish colony, with Presbyterian and cultural roots that still influence Otago's identity today.

Under the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852, Otago became one of New Zealand's provinces. Each province selected an Anniversary Day to commemorate its foundation.

For Otago, March 23, the date of the John Wickliffe's arrival, was chosen. Anniversary Days were major community events, with parades, civic gatherings, and celebrations of regional identity.

When New Zealand's provincial governments were abolished in 1876, Anniversary Days remained as regional public holidays.

Otago Anniversary Day continued to be recognized, linking the region to its Scottish heritage and early settlement history.

Today, the day is mostly used as a regional holiday for rest, leisure, and community events, with less formal historical commemoration than in the 19th century.