To determine which event occurred first among the options provided, let's look at when each event took place:
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Australian New Zealand became dominions: Australia became a dominion on January 1, 1901, with the federation of the Australian colonies. New Zealand was declared a dominion in 1907.
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Australia and New Zealand became independent countries: Australia gradually gained independence through legal changes, notably solidified with the Statute of Westminster in 1931, and New Zealand followed a similar path. Both countries were recognized as fully independent with the passage of the Statute in 1947, but they continued to have ties with Britain.
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British recognizes Australia and New Zealand as equals to Britain under the British crown: I can't pinpoint a specific date for "recognition as equals," but it was generally accepted after the Statute of Westminster in 1931.
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World War One occurs: World War One began on July 28, 1914, and lasted until November 11, 1918.
Based on the timeline, the first event is:
Australia became a dominion on January 1, 1901.
Therefore, the answer is that it occurred first before the other listed events.