New Munster

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

New Munster was originally the name of the South Island of New Zealand. It was given the name by an Irishman, Captain William Hobson, in honour of Munster in Ireland. It later became the name of a province of New Zealand. Provinces were used from 1841 until the Abolition of the Provinces Act in 1876. New Munster was established in 1846 and was dissolved in 1853. It comprised the North Island south of Patea River plus the South Island.

After 1853 New Munster was divided into several smaller provinces. The provinces became known as provincial districts. Their only real purpose today is to determine, with the exception of the Chatham Islands, Northland, and South Canterbury, the boundaries for public holidays.