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Events A-Z
Date
Pre 1800s
1800s
1900s
1900s
1910s
1920s
1930s
1940s
1950s
1950
Death of Sir Apirana Ngata
1950
Opening ceremony at British Empire Games in Auckland
1951
Tragic centennial yacht race begins
1951
Troops deployed in waterfront dispute
1951
First New Zealander killed in battle in Korean War
1951
Troopship
Wahine
wrecked en route to Korea
1951
Māori Women's Welfare League established
1951
Belmont viaduct blown up
1951
Legislative Council abolished
1952
ANZUS treaty comes into force
1952
Yvette Williams leaps to gold at Helsinki
1953
Godfrey Bowen sets world sheep-shearing record
1953
Tangiwai railway disaster
1953
Queen Elizabeth II arrives for royal tour
1953
New Zealand's first family planning clinic opens
1953
Armistice ends fighting in Korean War
1953
Hillary and Tenzing reach summit of Everest
1954
New Zealand Opera Group's first opening night
1954
Mazengarb report released
1954
New Zealand signs Manila Pact
1954
'Heavenly creatures' found guilty of murder
1954
Yvette Williams sets world long jump record
1954
Queen Elizabeth II opens Parliament
1954
Parker-Hulme murder in Christchurch
1955
NZ cricketers skittled for 26
1955
RNZAF's first combat strike since Second World War
1955
20-year-old hanged for murder
1956
Death of Opo the friendly dolphin
1956
New Zealand's first test cricket victory
1957
New Zealand's last execution
1957
Morris Yock trademarks the jandal
1957
Scott Base opens in Antarctica
1958
Hillary leads New Zealand party to South Pole
1958
Mormon temple opens in Hamilton
1958
Auckland pedestrians begin 'Barnes Dance'
1958
First open-heart surgery in New Zealand
1959
Evangelist Billy Graham arrives for 11-day crusade
1959
Auckland harbour bridge opens
1959
Chinese gooseberry becomes kiwifruit
1959
Fifteen die in mysterious shipwreck
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
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