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 (imported) commodities, but began the biggest economic boom of the 20th century in New Zealand.Impact of the War – NZ in the Korean War | NZHistory
Population Estimated population as of 31 December: 1,927,700. Increase since 31 December 1949: 35,600 (1.88%). 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 DSOStatistics New Zealand: New Zealand Official Yearbook, 1990. ISSN 0078-0170 page 52
Government The 29th New Zealand Parliament continued. In power was the newly elected 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 (Labour) 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 literature
Music
See: 1950 in music
Radio
See: Public broadcasting in New Zealand
Film
See: :Category:1950 film awards, 1950 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, :Category:1950 films
Sport
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 (his second win).List of New Zealand Chess Champions
Cricket
Horse racing
Harness racing New Zealand Trotting Cup – Chamfer Auckland Trotting Cup – Victory GlobeAuckland Trotting cup at hrnz.co.nz
Lawn bowls The national outdoor lawn bowls championships are held in Christchurch. Men's singles champion – L.J. Edwards (Balclutha Bowling Club) Men's pair champions – H. Hurst, E. Elwood (skip) (Christchurch RSA Bowling Club) Men's fours champions – E.H. Crowley, J.H. Meikle, V.F. Hurlstone, G.A. Crowley (skip) (Tolaga Bay Bowling Club)
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 team
Soccer The Chatham Cup is won by Eden who beat Technical Old Boys 3–2 after extra time in the final.Chatham Cup records, nzsoccer.com 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 (d. 2019) 26 February: Helen Clark, Prime Minister of New Zealand, 1999–2008 6 April: Muriel Newman, politician 22 April: Lee Tamahori, film director (d. 2025) 29 April: Paul Holmes, radio and television broadcaster (d. 2013) 2 May: Peter Gilbert, boxer (d. 1976) 24 May: Allison Durbin, singer 13 June: Pete Hodgson, politician 24 June: David Aspin, wrestler 3 July: Ewen Chatfield, cricketer 28 July: Pip Cheshire, architect (d. 2026) 1 August: John Britten, engineer and inventor (d. 1995) 12 August: Ken Shirley, politician 26 September: Andy Haden, rugby player (d. 2020) 9 November: Parekura Horomia, politician (d. 2013) 10 December: Simon Owen, golfer 13 December: Ruth Richardson, politician (in Hungary): George Baloghy, painter David Benson-Pope, politician Godwin Bradbeer, painter Alan Duff, writer Stephen Franks, politician and political commentator Greg McGee, screenwriter and playwright John McKinnon, diplomat and public servant Judith Mayhew, lawyer and academic Stephen Parke, physicist Kura 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 (in Hawaii).
References
See also List of years in New Zealand Timeline of New Zealand history History of New Zealand Military history of New Zealand Timeline of the New Zealand environment Timeline of New Zealand's links with Antarctica
For world events and topics in 1950 not specifically related to New Zealand see: 1950