Two-party Politics 1945-1966

1945

• New Zealand signs United Nations charter.
• Māori Social and Economic Advancement Act passed.
• 'Country quota' abolished.

1946

• Universal Family Benefit of £1 per week introduced.

1947

• Mabel Howard first women cabinet minister.
• New Zealand adopts the Statute of Westminster (1931) and becomes an independent state.

1948

• Māori electoral roll compiled for 1949 election.
• Part-Māori given choice of registering on either European or Māori rolls.

1949

• Iriaka Ratana first Māori woman elected to Parliament.
• National Party, led by Sid Holland, wins election to become the first National government.

1950

• Naval and ground forces sent to Korean War.
• Legislative Council abolished, with the House of Representatives the only House, or parliamentary body in the New Zealand Parliament.
• Elections now to be held only on Saturdays.

1951

• Waterfront strike.
• Snap election won by National.
• First time Māori and Pakeha vote on the same day.
• Pacific Security Treaty signed by United States, Australia and New Zealand (ANZUS).
• Naturalisation granted to Chinese.

1952

• Population of New Zealand passes 2 million.

1953

• Social Credit Political League founded to press for monetary reform.

1954

• New Zealand signs South East Asia Collective Defence Treaty (SEATO).
• Social Credit party wins 11% of the vote in the general election but no seats in parliament.
• Māori electorate seats redrawn for first time since 1867.

1956

• Electoral Act introduces reforms aimed at simplifying electoral process.
• Compulsory registration for Māori voters.

1957

• National loses election to Labour; Walter Nash leads second Labour government.

1958

• Arnold Nordmeyer's 'Black Budget increases taxes on beer, tobacco and petrol in an attempt to reduce spending on imports.

1960

• National government elected, with Keith Holyoake as Prime Minister.
• Government Services Equal Pay Act gives equal pay to women employed in the public service.

1961

• Capital punishment abolished (last hanging in New Zealand 1957).

1963

• First election when political speeches are broadcast on television (4 regional stations).

1966

• Te Arikinui Te Atairangikaahu becomes first Māori Queen.
• Protests against New Zealand's involvement in the Vietnam War.
• Social Credit Party wins first seat in parliament.
• Election results broadcast on television as soon as they become available.

Election posters at Discover