On 19 November 1912, the Battlecruiser HMS New Zealand was commissioned into the Royal Navy. Purchased in 1909 as a gift to Great Britain, New Zealand offered HMS NZ to the Empire against a background of uneasy debate concerning the relative strengths of the German and British naval fleets.

Laid down in June 1910, launched in July 1911, and commissioned on 19 November 1912 under Captain Lionel Halsey, New Zealand embarked on a flag-waving maiden tour around the world a few months later. The core purpose behind the tour was to show the people of New Zealand what their money had purchased; the opportunity to reinforce the message of duty and patriotism throughout the empire was an added bonus.

New Zealand sailed from England on 6 February 1913, stopping at several ports before arriving in New Zealand on 12 April 1913. Her arrival in Wellington caused a sensation, with huge crowds turned out to marvel at the latest in warship technology. During her 10 week tour of New Zealand, the battlecruiser visited 18 locations, from Bluff to Russell. The captain, and the mascot, Pelorus Jack, a bulldog belonging to Captain Halsey, were showered with gifts and honoured at special events. By the time New Zealand left, over half the population had viewed her.

HMS New Zealand went on to play a significant role in the naval battles of World War 1, returning for another tour of New Zealand in 1919. This time, 1.1 million New Zealanders went aboard during the 11 week visit.

In 1922, HMS New Zealand became a casualty of the Washington Naval Treaty. The vessel was decommissioned and sold for scrap in 1923. New Zealand did not finish paying for it until 1944.

TITLE: HMS "New Zealand", New Zealand's gift to the Empire ARTIST: G.M. Burn MEDIUM/SUPPORT: Oils DIMENSIONS: 1270 x 1020mm

Archives Reference: AAAC 898 Box 153 / NCWA 539 archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=22498154

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