The Kurow community will host a large contingent of leaders and volunteers from rural heritage communities around the South Island, as well as central and local government agencies, the tourism industry and private enterprise.
Kurow Social Security Commemorations group chairman David Wilson said it was often overlooked that the Social Security Act of 1938 was a natural progression from the original medical benefits scheme for depression workers on the Waitaki hydro dam project at Kurow.
The commemorations will include the New Zealand launch of Mary Logan's new book Nordy - Arnold Nordmeyer - A Political Biography, which highlights the birth of social security in New Zealand.
They will also embrace the official openings of stage one of the new National Museum of Social Security, a new 1938-themed visitor information centre at the front of the Kurow Museum, a social security heritage trail around Kurow and the Waitaki Dam, and the introduction of a new social security visitor information booklet.
