NZHistory, New Zealand history online - 1960s

Rock and pop touring bands of the 1960s

Pete Townshend throws his guitar in the air before smashing it, while performing the song 'My Generation', at the climax of a concert with other members of The Who in the Wellington Town Hall, 31 January 1968.

The beat boom bites

The Beatles, 1964

It was the year the beat boom hit New Zealand. In 1964 The Beach Boys, Roy Orbison, The Surfaris, Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas, Gerry and The Pacemakers, Sounds Incorporated, Dusty Springfield, Brian Poole and The Tremeloes, Eden Kane, The Searchers, Peter and Gordon, Del Shannon and, most famously of all, The Beatles wowed the main centres with the hits that were setting the pop world alight. There was no letup in 1965 as the beat and pop sound of Cilla Black, Freddie and The Dreamers, The Honeycombs, The Dave Clark Five, Gene Pitney, Sandy Shaw, Millie and The Seekers was joined by the raucous R&B of The Kinks, Manfred Mann, The Pretty Things and The Rolling Stones.

The Rolling Stones, 1966

The following three years would see Herman’s Hermits, Tom Jones, Eric Burdon and The New Animals, Dave, Dee, Dozy, Mick and Tich, the return of The Rolling Stones, The Walker Brothers, The Yardbirds (with their shortlived guitar front line of Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck), The Who, The Small Faces and Paul Jones touring on package tours such as Surfside ‘64, Starlift ’64, The Liverpool Sound Show, Swingin’ ’65, Big Beat ‘65 and The Big Show. They played short sets twice a day to teenagers in New Zealand halls and theatres, attracting various levels of frenzy and controversy.

For a small country at the bottom of the world – an exhausting plane journey or two away from the heart of the 1960s pop revolution in England and America – this was an extraordinary exposure to contemporary singers and groups at the height of their success.

Tucked in there on the show bills was the New Zealand response: Tommy Adderley, Dinah Lee, Johnny Devlin, Ray Columbus and The Invaders, The Librettos, Max Merritt and The Meteors, The Keil Isles, The Four Fours and Larry’s Rebels. These bands were the surface signs of an indigenous pop boom that erupted in all the main centres and many provincial cities.

Soon The La De Das, The Pleazers, The Breakaways, The Avengers, Sandy Edmonds, Mr Lee Grant, The Gremlins and The Fourmyula would be as well known locally as their British counterparts. Every city would have a number of teen clubs and dances presenting a weekly bill of performers to entertain the baby boomer progeny. In clubs such as The Galaxie, The Platterack and Top Twenty in Auckland, The Place in Wellington, Stagedoor in Christchurch and The Sunset Strip in Dunedin, together with many fly-by-night operations, teens could be themselves without the strong external pressures of the time. New Zealand artist-based tours, including the successful C’Mon franchise, named after the popular TV show, also became popular.

The Kiwi pop, beat and R&B boom was further fuelled by a large and surprising array of music released by the local branches of British record companies, especially the Wellington-based HMV. Importing records to keep up with the latest sounds was also common. This musical adventure extended to local bands who sifted through the latest albums by their heroes, or through the piles of singles sent to their record companies by overseas labels hopeful of a licensing release deal. They were chasing that obscure album track, flipside or middling overseas hit to make their own. New Zealand bands extracted gems like John Mayall’s ‘On Top Of The World’ (from a R&B compilation) or his non-hit British singles like ‘I'm Your Witchdoctor’ and the raw stripped-down folksy blues of ‘Sitting In The Rain’. These were local hits for The La De Das, Chants R&B and The Underdogs respectively. On the downside, though, it was hard to find a weaker version of ‘Mona’ than the one recorded by The Pleasers, or a safer take on ‘Got My Mojo Working’ than Tommy Adderley’s.

As pop fans grew older the line was increasingly drawn between pop and blues-derived sounds and acts. The package tours of the mid-1960s, which had brought together the fashionable strands of popular music, fell from fashion.

Written by Andrew Schmidt

Credit:

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: EP/1968/0473/4-F
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa must be obtained before any reuse of this image.

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1960s

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Kiwi music shows on TV - Timeline

New Zealanders can now view music videos over the internet or on music channels C4 and Juice TV. But after TV was introduced in 1960 several generations of New Zealanders kept up with the music scene through dedicated music shows on mainstream TV. Popular shows included C’mon in the 60s, Happen Inn in the 70s, Ready to roll, Radio with pictures and Shazam in the 80s, and RTR in the 90s.

There were many more short-lived shows. Far fewer people will remember Norman, hosted by Paul Holmes, A dropa kulcha, named in response to a comment by Prime Minister Robert Muldoon, or TV3’s first popular music show, Shakedown.

1960s

In February 1962 AKTV2 started screening New Zealand’s first TV music show, In the groove (1962–64).

TV had only been officially launched in the country in 1960, and a national network wasn’t established until the following decade. So In the groove screened on other regional channels later in the year.

Kevan Moore produced the first series of the show. It featured a ‘panel of young people’ giving their views on ‘current pop records’. Compere Stewart McPherson introduced guest artists. Moore was also responsible for the short- lived Let’s go (1964) and On the beat site (1965), and the more popular C’mon (1966–69) featuring the groovy Sandy Edmonds. All were hosted by the radio and television personality Peter Sinclair.

According to Moore, C’mon was axed by mutual consent after he accepted that the public wouldn’t put up with the increasing numbers of records that were ‘glorifying drugs and weirdo sex’. He felt ‘uneasy’ that they were ‘ignoring a lot of songs or changing the lyrics’.

1970s

Moore’s mild-mannered replacement for C’mon, Happen inn, screened from 1970 until 1973. Its cancellation ended his decade-long partnership with Sinclair.

Famous hosts

A number of TV icons got their start on music shows. Chief among them were Karyn Hay, who hosted Radio with pictures from 1981 to 1985, and Philip Schofield, who hosted Shazam! during the same period. Less well known is Paul Holmes’ brief role as a music show host on Norman and The grunt machine.

Moore followed up Happen inn with the country’s first colour music show, Free ride (1974), hosted by pop star Ray Columbus. By this time the national network had been completed and this series appeared on network TV.

In the mid-1970s the break-up of the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation led to the establishment of separate TV networks. Two of the next decade’s staples debuted on the competing channels: Ready to roll (1975–87/94) with host Roger Gascoigne on TV1 and Radio with pictures (1976–88) with host Barry 'Dr Rock' Jenkin on SPTV (TV2).

A number of other music shows screened during the 1970s. They included Pop Co (1972–73), The grunt machine (1975–76), Norman and The good time show (1975).

1980s

The first half of the 1980s was a period of relative stability for music show lovers. After the two networks amalgamated under TVNZ in 1980, TV1 and TV2 no longer needed to compete. For almost half a decade Ready to Roll, Radio with pictures, and then Shazam! (1982–87), screened year in and year out, shifting between the two channels.

True colours

Following the cancellation of the existing shows in 1986 TVNZ introduced True Colours, hosted jointly by Shazam’s Phillipa Dann and Radio with pictures’ Dick Driver. The show featured local bands recorded live in Wellington and Auckland. Only seven of the ten planned episodes went ahead.

In 1986 TVNZ took all music shows off the air following a dispute with record companies, who were demanding payment for video clips that were becoming increasingly expensive to produce. TVNZ refused to pay to screen them on the grounds that this was ‘a form of sales promotion’.

The dispute was resolved by the end of the year and the shows returned to air. But stability never returned. Heading into the next decade they were shaken once again by the arrival of competition. All of TVNZ’s music shows had by now moved to TV2, so it would be them versus TV3.

A number of other music shows screened during the 1980s. These included two offshoots of Ready to roll, RTR video releases (1982–86) and RTR mega-mix (1988–90), and the short-lived A dropa kulcha (1981–82), Heartbeat city(1987–88) and CV (1989).

1990s

Several significant changes took place during the 1990s, among them the launch shows on of weekend mornings. TV3 made the first move with Shakedown (1989–91). TV2 responded by putting RTR Sounz (1989–92) up against it.

The RTR brand dominated the scene at the beginning of the decade. No fewer than four offshoots – RTR countdown, RTR mega-mix, RTR new releases (1990) and RTR Sounz – coexisted in 1990. Later that year Pepsi was granted naming rights to the programmes. TV3 followed this lead with various offshoots of Coca Cola TVFM (1991–93). NZ On Air began funding New Zealand music videos in 1991 but it supported shows devoted to local music; chart-driven programmes such as these continued to be commercially sponsored. The RTR brand itself had disappeared by the mid-1990s, but its successors continued well into following decade.

The 1990s also saw the arrival of the first music channels, Cry TV and Max TV (1993–97). Both were forced out by TVNZ’s failed experiment with New Zealand’s own MTV (1997). Juice TV also started in the 1990s, as an offshoot of Sky TV’s Orange Channel.

Evening music shows continued to screen during the 1990s. In addition to RTR countdown, Radio with pictures reappeared briefly in 1990, followed by Frenzy (1993–97), Music nation (1995–97), Ground zero (1999) and Squeeze (1998–2004).

2000s

The early 2000s was a time of rapid change. TVNZ revived early-evening RTR (2000–04) and launched late-night Space (2000–03), all-night M2 (2001–03) and even a local version of Top of the pops (2004–05).

Alt TV

From 2006 to 2009 the privately owned and operated 24-hour music channel Alt TV provided an irreverent and at times controversial alternative to the more popular music options available.

TV3 and TV4 screened the phone-in request show Most wanted (2000–03) and the Pepsi chart (2001–02). Even Prime TV got in on the act with the week-night music show Cue (2000–01).

Despite all this activity, the early 2000s was really the beginning of the end of music shows on the main channels. In 2003 TV4 was transformed into a music channel, C4.

The number of music shows on the main channels has decreased steadily since then, and none screen regularly on these channels in 2010. Viewers are now getting their music fix from Juice TV, C4 and the internet.

Further information

Biography of Peter Blake on NZOnScreen (producer Ready to roll, Radio with pictures, Heartbeat city)
Biography of Brent Hansen on NZOnScreen (producer/ director, Radio with pictures)
Biography of Tony Holden on NZOnScreen (producer Ready to roll, Radio with pictures)

1969 - key events

First steel produced from local ironsand

In 1959 the government established the New Zealand Steel Investigating Company. Its brief was to determine the technical and economic feasibility of manufacturing steel from local raw materials. After initially relying on scrap iron to produce steel when it first opened in 1968, New Zealand Steel's new mill at Glenbrook, south of Auckland, developed new techniques enabling it to make use of the abundant supplies of local ironsand (titanomagnetite).

The ‘Save Manapouri’ campaign

At a public meeting in Invercargill in October the ‘Save Manapouri' campaign was officially launched. This was a response to plans to raise the level of Lake Manapouri by 8 metres for a hydroelectric power scheme to supply a new aluminium smelter at Tiwai Point, Bluff. The opposition to this proposal was New Zealand's first mass environmental movement. It is considered by many to be the birth of New Zealand's ‘green movement'.

Many New Zealanders opposed the project because of its ecological impact. Others were concerned that the power needs of the Comalco (an overseas consortium) smelter were taking priority over the interests of New Zealanders. In May 1970 the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society presented to Parliament a petition with more than 260,000 signatures opposing the project. Following its victory in the 1972 general election Labour passed legislation protecting the lake's level. Six Guardians were appointed to oversee the management of the lake all of whom had been prominent leaders of the Save Manapouri Campaign, including Ron McLean.

Rainbow II wins prestigious One Ton Cup

New Zealanders have a formidable reputation as sailors. In the various Olympic classes, America's Cup or the great ocean classics such as round-the-world and Sydney to Hobart, Kiwis have punched above their weight in yachting. On 21 July 1969 (the same day that the first moon landing was broadcast) news arrived from Heligoland, Germany, that New Zealander Chris Bouzaid had won the prestigious One Ton Cup with his homemade Rainbow II. Despite the distraction of the moon mission, New Zealanders followed the racing from the North Sea with great excitement as Bouzaid defeated the German holder in four successive races. His victory not only secured the Sportsman of the Year award for 1969 but ensured that New Zealand emerged as a major force in world yachting.

Introduction of blood and breath alcohol limits for drivers

In 1960, 374 New Zealanders lost their lives in road accidents. By 1969 the number had increased by almost 200. New Zealanders were driving more powerful cars prompting calls for increased speed limits. These occurred in 1962 when the open road speed limit increased from 50mph (80km/h) to 55mph (88km/h) and again in 1969 to 60mph (96km/h). While speed was identified as one of the factors contributing to our ever-increasing road toll, so too was drink driving. In 1969 blood alcohol and breath testing procedures were introduced to tackle this problem. A limit of 100mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood was set. The breathalyser was adopted as a screening device to help test for drivers over this limit.

Other 1969 events

New Zealand's first major oil strike was announced at the Maui I well off the Taranaki coast. Exploration for oil in the Maui II field began later in 1969.
Archbishop Peter McKeefry became New Zealand's first Catholic cardinal
‘Nippon clip-ons' widened the Auckland Harbour Bridge from four lanes to eight
Twenty-year-olds were allowed to vote in general elections for the first time
James K. Baxter established a community at Jerusalem on the Whanganui River and began referring to himself as ‘Hemi'
Shane won the Loxene Golden Disc Award for ‘Saint Paul'. These awards were the forerunner of today's Tui Awards or New Zealand Music Awards.
A Lion in the Meadow was published, launching the career of the acclaimed New Zealand children's writer Margaret Mahy.
Shortly after midnight on 22 June 1969 a lahar on Mt Ruapehu destroyed the kiosk at the Whakapapa ski field. The time of the incident ensured no skiers were at risk.

Can you remember 1969? Add your memories and comments in the form below.

The golden age of Crown Lynn pottery

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A decade of crowning ceramics

Described as classic kiwiana, Crown Lynn pottery was a popular household feature in the 1960s. From its 1920s origins as brick and pipe manufacturers, the company expanded into the domestic market.

Successful Government lobbying to place higher tariffs on imported goods assisted in the company’s fortunes. By 1960 it reached its peak production of about 10 million pieces, becoming the largest pottery company in the Southern Hemisphere at that time.

Slide 1: The 1960s were a celebration of the new and Crown Lynn faced demands to develop shapes and patterns reflecting changing tastes. One initiative was the establishment of an annual design competition resulting in a number of entries being picked up by the company. Winning designs such as Otway Josling’s Reflections and runner-up Don Mills’ Narvick were popular sellers.

Slide 2: Along with a range of new dinner sets, Crown Lynn produced the ‘coffee can’ in 1963. Similar to a tea cup, the straight-sided cup was a novel concept to New Zealand’s caffeine connoisseurs.

Slides 3-4: The visit of Queen Elizabeth to its Auckland factory in 1963 was seen as a turning point in the so-called ‘snob wars’. Perceived as being inferior to British brands, the New Zealand-made product became more respectable to local consumers following the royal appearance. An ornate urn was specially presented during the Queen’s visit with lesser decorated replicas sold as souvenirs.

Slide 5: Fortunately you didn’t need to be the Queen of England to tour Crown Lynn as factory tours were introduced earlier in 1961. By 1986 around 150,000 people had visited the factory.

Slides 6-8: Growing market confidence saw the development of uniquely New Zealand designs with product names such as Egmont and Ponui. Traditional British rose patterns were replaced by forestry scenes like Sierra Pine. Crockery supplied for Air New Zealand in the mid 1960s featured earthy colours alongside a Maori kowhaiwhai pattern.

Slides 9-10: Crown Lynn commissioned international designers like the American Dorothy Thorpe. The Santa Barbara range launched in 1965 featured ball-handled coffee sets. While striking in appearance, they were difficult to hold and damaged easily. Not that this was a problem, as according to a Crown Lynn employee, 'you never used the damn things anyway'. Other designs released in this series included Pine and Palm Springs.

Slides 11-12: Crown Lynn embarked upon an exporting drive with Australia becoming the first international market. As well establishing numerous Australian outlets, the company won contracts with large organisations such as armed forces to supply tableware. Canada became another key market, leading to Crown Lynn being one of New Zealand’s top exporters for the 1960s.

Slide 13: Locally, five designs comprising of Autumn Splendour, Golden Fall, Shasta Daisy, Green Bamboo and Fashion Rose were promoted under an innovative policy which guaranteed that customers could purchase any replacements for broken items. No longer did a breakage mean owning an incomplete dinner set. Autumn Splendour went on to become Crown Lynn’s top seller in the 1960s.

Slide 14: To mark the changeover of New Zealand’s currency in 1967, Crown Lynn produced a cup and saucer featuring the new decimal system.

Slide 14: Not content with kitchens and dining rooms, Crown Lynn created items for the bathroom. The 1967 Feminine Approach range featured door handles, keyholes and light switch plates. Later, toilet roll holders, soap dishes, towel-rail holders and toothbrush stands enabled the use of Crown Lynn products throughout the house.

Celebrating the company's 21st anniversary in 1969, Crown Lynn’s founder Tom Clark remarked that 'only nine years ago Crown Lynn was a dirty word'. The success of the 1960s did not last, however, with import restrictions later lifted, economic difficulties and company takeovers all contributing to the demise of Crown Lynn in 1989. Ironically, 20 years on, Crown Lynn is more popular than ever, with pieces keenly sought out by collectors. Flick through any New Zealand interiors magazine and you will soon come across references to the brand. From op shops to auction houses, Crown Lynn has become desirable; businesses even hire out the company's iconic white swans. Once again, Crown Lynn is being adored by a new generation of Kiwis.

Further information

Books

Gail Henry, New Zealand pottery: commercial and collectable, Reed Books, Auckland, 1999
Valerie Ringer Monk, Crown Lynn: a New Zealand icon, Penguin, Auckland, 2006

Images and text courtesy Fran McGowan, 2010

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1968 - key events

Wahine disaster

At around 6.40 a.m. on 10 April the inter-island ferry Wahine, with 734 passengers and crew on board, struck Barrett Reef at the entrance to Wellington Harbour. Would-be rescuers stood helplessly on the beach at Seatoun as the Wahine succumbed to Hurricane Giselle, one of the worst storms recorded in New Zealand history. This country’s deadliest modern maritime disaster, the Wahine wreck would ultimately claim 53 lives.

Īnangahua earthquake

At 5.24 a.m. on 24 May Īnangahua Junction, a small community 40 km east of Westport, was the epicentre of a magnitude 7.1 earthquake. The violent shaking threw some residents from their beds. Two died when a limestone bluff collapsed onto a farmhouse. A motorist was killed near Greymouth when he hit a section of road that had subsided at a bridge approach. Three men also died later when a rescue helicopter crashed.

A number of landslides were triggered by the tremors. One dammed the Buller River above Īnangahua Junction, raising the river 30 m above its normal level. With the water backed up for 7 km Inangahua and Westport were at risk should the dam burst. This threat forced the evacuation of everyone in its path.

John Rowles breaks into UK top 10

While a number of New Zealand musicians had cracked the Australasian market no one had really made the next big step until John Rowles arrived in London in late 1967. Competing against established stars like Tom Jones and Engelbert Humperdinck, the boy from Kawerau had a huge hit with his first UK release, 'If I Only Had Time'/'Now Is the Hour'. It cracked the top 10 in the UK, Australia and New Zealand. His follow-up single, 'Hush Not a Word to Mary'/'The Night We Called It A Day', also made the top 20 in all three countries. During the late 1960s Rowles established himself as New Zealand's premier international artist. He is best remembered for the 1969 hit single 'Cheryl Moana Marie', which sold a million copies worldwide.

Death of Sir Walter Nash

Walter Nash was Prime Minister in the second Labour Government (1957-60). He had been associated with the Labour Party since its creation in 1916 and first entered Parliament by winning the Hutt Valley (Wellington) seat in a 1929 by-election. He continued to represent this seat until his death. He was Minister of Finance in the first Labour Government (1935-49) and became leader of the party in 1951.

His leadership was severely tested during the controversial 1951 waterfront dispute. While addressing a rally in Auckland he stated that Labour was ‘not for the waterside workers, and we are not against them’. This bid to be impartial backfired badly. He was ridiculed by his political opponents and the press for years afterwards. In the snap election that followed Nash and Labour were humiliated, winning only 30 of the 80 seats. But Nash confirmed his status as one of the great survivors of New Zealand politics when, at the age of 75, he led Labour to victory in the 1957 election.

Other events of 1968

Allison Durbin won the Loxene Golden Disc Award for I Have Loved Me a Man. These awards were the forerunner of today’s Tui Awards or New Zealand Music Awards.
The Wattie Book Awards (forerunner of the Montana New Zealand Book Awards) began. The first winner was John Morton and Michael Miller’s The New Zealand Sea Shore. J. T. Salmon’s 2nd Field Guide to the alpine plants of New Zealand came second and Lloyd Geering’s God in the New World third.
Wellington hosted the ministerial conference of the South-East Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO). With the Vietnam War the major topic for discussion, a coalition of anti-war groups met at the same time.
The current affairs show Gallery began, hosted by Brian Edwards.
The New Zealand men's coxed fours won the gold medal at the Mexico City Olympics. Mike Ryan won a bronze in the men’s marathon, while Ian Ballinger also won bronze in the men's small-bore rifle shooting.
For the first year (other than during a major war) the number of females exceeded the number of males. There were 99.8 men per 100 women.

Can you remember 1968? Add your memories and comments in the form below.

1967 - key events

Explosion at Strongman coal mine

Nineteen men were killed when an explosion ripped through the Strongman Mine at Runanga, near Greymouth, on the morning of 19 January. An investigation later concluded that safety regulations were not followed and that the shot was incorrectly fired. An even greater death toll was avoided because the fireball that followed the explosion hit a wet patch causing it extinguish itself.

New Zealand adopts decimal currency

In a drawn out and sometimes bitter competition James Berry's designs for the decimal coinage were overwhelming supported in a nationwide newspaper poll in 1966. These were subsequently approved by the Royal Mint and issued in 1967.

The introduction of decimal currency on 10 July saw New Zealanders dispense with pounds, shillings and pence in favour of dollars and cents. The names 'kiwi' or 'zeal' were considered for the new currency but in the end the word dollar was selected.

The end of the 'six o'clock swill'

Six p.m. closing for pubs had been introduced as a temporary wartime measure in 1917 before being made permanent the following year. The term 'six o'clock swill' referred to the practice where patrons aimed to get their fill of beer before closing time. Essentially two generations of Kiwi men learnt to drink as fast as possible, contributing to a binge-drinking culture.

Kiwi wins Formula One championship

A third-place finish at the Mexico Grand Prix on 22 October was enough for Te Puke’s Denny Hulme to claim the F1 championship for the Brabham team. Victories at Monte Carlo and in Germany, backed up by a string of strong points finishes, gave Hulme a five-point advantage over his team boss Jack Brabham. Another Kiwi, Chris Amon, finished fourth in the championship.

In 1968 Hulme moved to the McLaren team, owned by fellow Kiwi Bruce McLaren. Despite victories in Italy and Canada, Hulme was unable to defend his title and finished third in the overall standings. Hulme remains New Zealand’s only Formula One world champion.

Other events of 1967

In February the school milk scheme came to an end. It had been in place since 1937 and was part of the first Labour government’s plans to boost the health and welfare of New Zealand children.
Arthur Porritt became the first New Zealand-born Governor-General. He had represented New Zealand at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris where he won bronze in the 100 metres, a race later made famous in the movie Chariots of Fire.
Mr Lee Grant won the Loxene Golden Disc Award for Thanks To You. These awards were the forerunner of today’s Tui Awards or New Zealand Music Awards.
The issue of sporting ties with South Africa reared its head once more as the New Zealand Rugby Union canceled the proposed 1967 tour to the Republic.
In a case that attracted worldwide attention, Lloyd Geering, Professor of Old Testament Studies and Principal of Knox College, Dunedin, was acquitted on charges of ‘doctrinal error and disturbing the peace and unity of the (Presbyterian) church’.
Following the slump in the export price for wool, unemployment jumped from just over 200 to nearly 4500.

Can you remember 1967? Add your memories and comments in the form below.

1966 - key events

NZ’s longest running TV show debuts

The first episode of Country Calendar screened on the evening of Sunday 6 March. The 15-minute show was intended as a roundup of news for country folk. New Zealanders' identification with their rural heartland and traditions ensured that even 'townies' embraced Country Calendar, which has consistently been one of the most popular locally made television shows. It is believed to be the second-longest-running series in the world – after the English soap-opera Coronation Street.

Kaitawa tragedy

On the evening of 23 May all 29 crew on board the MV Kaitawa died when the ship was lost in heavy seas as it approached Cape Reinga. This was one of New Zealand’s worst shipwrecks of the 20th century. On a routine run with a cargo of coal from Westport to the Portland cement works, near Whangarei, the Kaitawa sent a Mayday call around 9 p.m. All contact was then lost and wreckage began floating ashore the next day. Investigators concluded that the Kaitawa was most likely swamped by one or more great waves. As the ship took on water it began to list and drifted on to the Pandora Bank. Here it was smashed by the heavy seas and capsized before drifting to a point closer to Cape Maria van Diemen, where it sank to the ocean floor. Only the body of motorman John Wright was ever recovered.

Coronation of new Maori Queen

In May the Maori King, Koriki, died at his home in Ngaruawahia. Shortly before his burial on 23 May his daughter Piki was crowned as Te Atairangikaahu, becoming the first Maori Queen. The sixth Maori monarch since the creation of the Kingitanga in 1858, Te Atairangikaahu is to date the longest-serving Maori monarch. She died in August 2006, shortly after celebrating her 40th jubilee as Queen.

The White House comes to New Zealand

In a bid to shore up support for the war in Vietnam, New Zealand received two high-profile visitors from the White House in 1966. A visit in February from Vice-President Hubert Humphrey was followed in October by the two-day visit of President Lyndon B. Johnson. ‘LBJ’ was the first President to visit this country. It was not, however, his first visit New Zealand – he had been stationed here (and in Australia) during the Second World War.

Other events of 1966

The local television music show C’mon made its debut. Hosted by Peter Sinclair, it showcased a number of local artists and dancers who became household names including the Chicks, Mr Lee Grant and Dinah Lee.
Don’t Let It Get You was only the third New Zealand feature film since the end of the Second World War. Made by John O’Shea for Pacific Films, it starred Howard Morrison, a heavily brylcreemed Lew Pryme and a young Kiri Te Kanawa.
Maria Dallas won the Loxene Golden Disc Award for Tumbling down. These awards were the forerunner of today’s Tui Awards or New Zealand Music Awards.
The Socialist Unity Party was established by the pro-Russian faction of the New Zealand Communist Party. With strong trade union ties, the SUP established itself as the most powerful extreme left-wing group in the country.
The All Blacks completed a 4-0 clean sweep against the touring British and Irish Lions. The Lions played 25 matches in New Zealand, also losing to Southland, Otago, Wellington and Wanganui-King Country. Bay of Plenty and Hawke’s Bay drew with the visitors.
The new inter-island ferry Wahine arrived at Wellington on 24 July 1966, making its first voyage to Lyttelton on 1 August. Its sinking at the entrance to Wellington Harbour in 1968 is one of the enduring images of New Zealand in the sixties.
The 20-year-old two-party monopoly of Parliament was ended when Social Credit leader Vernon Cracknell won the Hobson electorate in the 1966 general election. National won the election with a nine-seat majority from Labour.
The state monopoly on commercial radio broadcasting was challenged by pirate station Radio Hauraki’s first transmission from the vessel Tiri in the Colville Channel.
The poet James K. Baxter was awarded New Zealand's premier literary residency, the Robert Burns Fellowship.
Gisborne was hit by a magnitude 6.2 earthquake on 5 March with considerable damage to property.
The first Trekka, the only vehicle to be designed and mass produced in New Zealand, rolled off the assembly line for the first time. Some 2500 of these jeep-style farm vehicles were built between 1966 and 1973.

Can you remember 1966? Add your memories and comments in the form below.

1965 - key events

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.

Can you remember 1965? Add your memories and comments in the form below.

1964 - key events

Beatlemania arrives

Some New Zealanders must have wondered what had hit the country when the Beatles touched down at Wellington airport in June 1964. Hysterical fans greeted the ‘Fab Four’ wherever they went. In Auckland the decision by the Mayor, Dove-Myer Robinson, to hold a civic reception for the Beatles led one of his councillors to complain about acknowledging the ‘hysteria, antics, adulation, rioting, screaming and roaring’ associated with ‘these bewigged musicians.’

Marsden Point opened

As New Zealand was a small market most oil companies operating here had traditionally imported fuels in their finished form. After the Second World War a growing economy saw an increase in the demand for oil products. The decision was made to build an oil refinery in New Zealand.

Marsden Point near Whangarei was selected due to its proximity to both a deep-water harbour and the country's biggest population centre, Auckland. Construction began in 1962, and it was officially opened by Prime Minister Keith Holyoake on 30 May 1964. The refinery was designed to supply the majority of New Zealand's demand and produced the full range of petroleum products, including petrol, diesel, jet fuel and fuel oil.

The Marsden Point refinery was the first of a number of significant projects developed in the 1960s to enhance New Zealand's industrial infrastructure. Others included the Manapouri hydro scheme and the Glenbrook steel mill.

Lyttelton road tunnel opens

A rail tunnel between Christchurch and the port at Lyttelton had opened in 1867 but road users had to wait nearly a century for a more efficient road link between the two. The opening of the Lyttelton-Christchurch road tunnel on 27 February 1964 meant the more arduous trip over Evans Pass in the Port Hills could be avoided. Travelling time between the two points was halved.

Construction on the tunnel, a joint venture between New Zealand’s Fletcher Construction Ltd and American company Henry J. Kaiser Inc., began in 1962. The £3 million cost was met by the introduction of a 20 cent toll (which was removed in 1978). By the time the Governor-General, Sir Bernard Fergusson, opened the tunnel some 250 kg of explosives had been used to remove 150,000 cubic metres of rock. Approximately 1.5 million glazed white tiles were used to line its walls. At just under 2 km long, it remains New Zealand’s longest road tunnel.

She’s a mod

'She’s a mod', by Ray Columbus and the Invaders, was released here in June 1964, but amid the clamour of the Beatles tour, it was initially overlooked. Surprisingly, in October it became an overnight smash in Sydney, topping the charts and reportedly selling 20,000 copies in less than three weeks. Success at home followed and the band became an Australasian teen sensation. They had their own taste of Beatlesque hysteria and were mobbed wherever they went. Ray Columbus’s ‘Mod’s Nod’ dance routine captured the joy, dizziness and sheer optimism of the 1960s youth experience.

Other 1964 events

Police surveillance was required during the first cricket test between New Zealand and South Africa at the Basin Reserve in February as New Zealand's fledgling anti-apartheid movement protested against the tourists presence in the country. Worldwide condemnation of South Africa's racist apartheid policies had led to a call to boycott contact with South African sporting teams. Later that year the IOC banned South Africa from competing at the Tokyo Olympics.
The Auckland urban population surpassed the 500,000 mark for the first time. By the time of the 2006 census this had increased to 1.3 million.
Tram #252, displaying the message 'end of the line', travelled from Thorndon to the Zoo in Newtown, Wellington, bringing to an end the use of electric trams in New Zealand.
Following the shooting deaths of four police officers the previous year, training began of officers for a specialist armed offenders' squad.
Peter Snell's double gold in the 800 and 1500m at the Tokyo Olympics cemented his place as the greatest middle-distance runner of his generation.
More than 170 years of New Zealand whaling history came to a close when J. A. Perano and Company caught its last whale off the coast near Kaikoura.
The British architect Sir Basil Spence's design for a new executive wing of Parliament was unveiled to a mixed reception. The 'Beehive', as the building becomes known, is eventually opened in 1981.
Massey University of Manawatu was formally established on 1 January (from 1966 it was known simply as Massey University).

Can you remember 1964? Add your memories and comments in the form below.

British Open trophy

In 1963 Bob Charles became the first – and to date only – New Zealander to lift The Golf Champion Trophy, better known as 'The Claret Jug', by winning the British Open golf championship. His was also the first major championship won by a left-hander, a feat that would not be repeated until 2003.

The Carterton-born golfer first came to prominence as an 18-year-old amateur when he beat a top international field to win the New Zealand Open at Heretaunga. He turned professional in 1960. After winning the New Zealand PGA Championship in 1961 he left for the European and North American circuits.

1963 was to be Charles' breakthrough year as a professional. He won his first PGA Tour event, the Houston Classic, before his monumental performance in the British Open championship at Royal Lytham and St. Annes. He was level with the American Phil Rodgers after four rounds, but Charles' putting in the 36-hole playoff was deadly and he won by an impressive eight shots.

In a career spanning more than 50 years, Charles won about 80 tournaments around the world, including the Senior British Open in 1993. He remains, along with Michael Campbell, one of only two New Zealanders to win a major golfing championship. Proof of his longevity was never better illustrated than in the 2007 New Zealand Open when he shot 68 in the second round, beating his age by three strokes. He eventually finished in a tie for 23rd.

Read more about the Claret Jug (Wikipedia).

Credit:

Image: Richard Carter http://www.flickr.com/photos/gruts/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

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Further information

1969 - key events

First steel produced from local ironsand

The ‘Save Manapouri’ campaign

Rainbow II wins prestigious One Ton Cup

Introduction of blood and breath alcohol limits for drivers

Other 1969 events

The golden age of Crown Lynn pottery

A decade of crowning ceramics

Further information

Links

Books

1968 - key events

Wahine disaster

Īnangahua earthquake

John Rowles breaks into UK top 10

Death of Sir Walter Nash

Other events of 1968

1967 - key events

Explosion at Strongman coal mine

New Zealand adopts decimal currency

The end of the 'six o'clock swill'

Kiwi wins Formula One championship

Other events of 1967

1966 - key events

NZ’s longest running TV show debuts

Kaitawa tragedy

Coronation of new Maori Queen

The White House comes to New Zealand

Other events of 1966

1965 - key events

New Zealand sends combat forces to Vietnam

Prison Riots

NAFTA signed

Cook Islands achieve self-government

Other 1965 events

1964 - key events

Beatlemania arrives

Marsden Point opened

Lyttelton road tunnel opens

She’s a mod

Other 1964 events

British Open trophy