New Zealand sends combat forces to Vietnam
New Zealand's involvement in Vietnam was highly controversial and attracted protest and condemnation at home and abroad. For a growing number of New Zealanders the war triggered a re-examination of our foreign policy and identity.
The government was initially cautious in its approach, choosing to send a Civilian Surgical Team in 1963. Under increasing pressure from the United States, army engineers were dispatched in June 1964 to help with reconstruction projects. In April 1965 the US Secretary for State, Henry Cabot Lodge, arrived in Wellington. He was greeted by anti-war demonstrations but the following month the government announced it was sending its first combat force: the Royal New Zealand Artillery's 161 Battery. In July 161 Battery, now stationed at Bien Hoa air base near Saigon, opened fire on a Viet Cong position in support of the American 173rd Airborne Brigade.
Prison Riots
Mt Eden Prison is one of New Zealand's oldest prisons and probably its best known. By 1945 there were public calls for the ageing Victorian stone building to be demolished. In the winter of 1965, as over-crowding reached a critical point, a prison-wide riot erupted. On 20 July, following a failed mass breakout attempt, prisoners lit fires that quickly spread along the roof. By the time they surrendered 33 hours later little remained of the prison other than its exterior stone shell. The rebellious mood quickly spread. Conflicts and fires were started at Wellington's Mt Crawford Prison and Paparua Prison in Christchurch.
NAFTA signed
Australia played an important part in New Zealand's early economic development but Britain became the main market for both countries' agricultural exports. New Zealand continued to trade with Australia, though, and the trans-Tasman neighbours signed their first formal economic agreement in 1922. But due to the guaranteed access to the British market it was of little consequence. By the early 1960s Britain had made clear its intention to join the European Economic Community, which would mean an end to New Zealand and Australia's cosy arrangements with the British market. Against this background a New Zealand Australia Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was signed on 31 August 1965. It came into force on 1 January 1966.
The agreement allowed for the phasing out of duties on a range of products over a period of up to eight years. Each country submitted lists of products to be included in ‘free trade’ schedules, which were then subject to an annual review. This led to criticisms that the agreement was ‘too complex and bureaucratic’. NAFTA had a modest impact on trade between the two neighbours. By the end of the 1960s Australia continued to provide around 20% of New Zealand's imports, while our exports to Australia had increased from 4% to 8%. Others argued that NAFTA played an important part in stimulating debate on trans-Tasman economic integration, culminating in the 1983 Closer Economic Relations (CER) agreement.
Cook Islands achieve self-government
New Zealand's formal ties with the Cook Islands began as a result of a petition by the chiefs of Rarotonga. In 1901 the Federal Parliament of the Cooks was abolished and the islands were incorporated into the boundaries of New Zealand. Until 1946 the islands were governed by the Resident Commissioner of Rarotonga, who was appointed by the New Zealand government.
After the Second World War steps were taken towards establishing responsible internal self-government. By 1957 a representative Legislative Assembly of the Cook Islands with increased legislative powers was created. In 1962 this Assembly declared its intention to achieve internal self-government, which was achieved in August 1965.
Other 1965 events
- Waikato University at Hamilton was officially opened in February
- TEAL became Air New Zealand
- Ray Columbus and The Invaders won the inaugural Loxene Golden Disc Award for Till we kissed. These awards were the forerunner of today's Tui Awards or New Zealand Music Awards
- The Benmore hydroelectric scheme came on line. Electricity was sent to the North Island via a new inter-island cable
- The last steam express on the North Island main trunk line left Auckland for Wellington
- The first commercial services flew out of Auckland's new International Airport at Mangere (which was officially opened in January 1966)
- The Lawson quintuplets were born in Auckland. They were the first set of quintuplets to survive in New Zealand
- The final link in the Haast pass road was completed
- The stellar career of Kiri Te Kanawa was launched when she won the Mobil Song Quest
- Norman Kirk replaced Arnold Nordmeyer as leader of the opposition Labour Party. ‘Big Norm’ would later end National's 12-year stranglehold on power with a landslide victory in 1972.
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