1950 in New Zealand

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 (imported) 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 (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 DSO
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
Chess
The 57th National Chess Championship was held in Auckland, and was won by P. Allerhand of Wellington (his second win).
Cricket
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 (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.
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
29 April: Paul Holmes, radio and television broadcaster (d. 2013)
24 May: Allison Durbin, singer
13 June: Pete Hodgson, politician
17 June: Lee Tamahori, film director
24 June: David Aspin, wrestler
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
Years of the 20th century in New Zealand