 The modern area of observation includes all of Nelson City and includes all of the present-day Buller, Kaikoura, Marlborough, Tasman districts as well as the Grey District north of the Grey River and the Hurunui District north of the Hurunui River.The holiday usually falls on the Monday closest to 1 February, the anniversary of the arrival of the first New Zealand Company boat, the "Fifeshire" on 1 February 1842.Anniversary celebrations in the early years featured a sailing regatta, horse racing, running races, shooting and ploughing matches.