1950 in New Zealand
The following lists events that happened during 1950 in New Zealand.
New Zealand entered into the Korean War – a total of 4,700 New Zealanders served in Korea. New Zealand also was involved in the Malayan Emergency.
The New Zealand Legislative Council was abolished, see Suicide squad.
The 1950 British Empire Games was held in Auckland.
Wool prices boomed, tripling during the year, due to U.S. stockpiling as a reaction to the Korean war. This was offset somewhat by increases in the prices of other commodities, but began the biggest economic boom of the 20th century in New Zealand.
Population
- Estimated population as of 31 December: 1,927,700.
- Increase since 31 December 1949: 35,600.
- Males per 100 females: 100.7.
Incumbents
Regal and viceregal
- Head of State – George VI
- Governor-General – Lieutenant-General The Lord Freyberg VC GCMG KCB KBE DSO
Government
The 29th New Zealand Parliament continued. In power was the newly elected [First First National Government of New Zealand|National Government of New Zealand|National] government under Sidney Holland of the National Party.- Speaker of the House – Robert McKeen then Mathew Oram
- Prime Minister – Sidney Holland
- Deputy Prime Minister – Keith Holyoake
- Minister of Finance – Sidney Holland
- Minister of Foreign Affairs – Frederick Doidge
- Attorney-General – Clifton Webb
- Chief Justice – Sir Humphrey O'Leary
Parliamentary opposition
- Leader of the Opposition – Peter Fraser until his death on 5 August, then vacant until January 1951.
Main centre leaders
- Mayor of Auckland – John Allum
- Mayor of Hamilton – Harold Caro
- Mayor of Wellington – Will Appleton then Robert Macalister
- Mayor of Christchurch – Ernest Andrews then Robert M. Macfarlane
- Mayor of Dunedin – Donald Cameron then Leonard Morton Wright
Events
- 4 January – Start of the 4th British Empire Games in Auckland.
- 4 June – Butter rationing, introduced in October 1943, is abolished.
Arts and literature
See 1950 in art, 1950 in literatureMusic
See: 1950 in musicRadio
See: Public broadcasting in New ZealandFilm
See: :Category:1950 film awards, 1950 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, :Category:1950 filmsSport
Athletics
- George Bromley wins his third national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:55:07 in Napier.
British Empire Games
| Total | |||
| 10 | 22 | 21 | 53 |
Chess
- The 57th National Chess Championship was held in Auckland, and was won by P. Allerhand of Wellington.
Horse racing
Harness racing
- New Zealand Trotting Cup – Chamfer
- Auckland Trotting Cup – Victory Globe
Lawn bowls
The national outdoor lawn bowls championships are held in Christchurch.- Men's singles champion – L.J. Edwards
- Men's pair champions – H. Hurst, E. Elwood
- Men's fours champions – E.H. Crowley, J.H. Meikle, V.F. Hurlstone, G.A. Crowley
Rugby union
The British and Irish Lions, captained by Karl Mullen, toured the country, losing three tests to the All Blacks and drawing one.Rugby league
New Zealand national rugby league teamSoccer
- The Chatham Cup is won by Eden who beat Technical Old Boys 3–2 after extra time in the final.Provincial league champions:
- * Auckland: Eastern Suburbs AFC
- * Canterbury: Technical OB
- * Hawke's Bay: Watersiders
- * Nelson: Woodbourne
- * Otago: Northern AFC
- * South Canterbury: Northern Hearts
- * Southland: Brigadiers
- * Taranaki: City
- * Waikato: Claudelands Rovers
- * Wanganui: Wanganui Athletic
- * Wellington: Seatoun AFC
Births
- 3 January: Robert Oliver, road and track cyclist
- 5 January: Matt Robson, politician
- 8 February: Peter Wells, New Zealand writer, filmmaker
- 26 February: Helen Clark, Prime Minister of New Zealand, 1999–2008
- 6 April: Muriel Newman, politician
- 22 April: Lee Tamahori, film director
- 29 April: Paul Holmes, radio and television broadcaster
- 2 May: Peter Gilbert, boxer
- 24 May: Allison Durbin, singer
- 13 June: Pete Hodgson, politician
- 24 June: David Aspin, wrestler
- 1 August: John Britten, engineer and inventor
- 12 August: Ken Shirley, politician
- 26 September: Andy Haden, rugby player
- 9 November: Parekura Horomia, politician
- 10 December: Simon Owen, golfer
- 13 December: Ruth Richardson, politician
- : George Baloghy, painterDavid Benson-Pope, politicianGodwin Bradbeer, painterAlan Duff, writerStephen Franks, politician and political commentatorGreg McGee, screenwriter and playwrightJohn McKinnon, diplomat and public servantJudith Mayhew, lawyer and academicStephen Parke, physicistKura Te Waru Rewiri, painter
Deaths
- 23 March: Paddy Webb, politician
- 14 July: Āpirana Ngata, Māori politician and lawyer.
- 23 August: Abraham Wachner, 35th Mayor of Invercargill.
- 19 November: Tom Brindle, politician and activist
- 11 December: Leslie Comrie, New Zealand astronomer and computing pioneer.
- 12 December: Peter Fraser, 24th Prime Minister of New Zealand.William Twigg-Smith, painter.