1918 in New Zealand
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The jubilation over the end of World War I was overshadowed by the Spanish flu pandemic reaching New Zealand. In four months, it is estimated that over 8600 New Zealanders died of the disease and between one third and one half of the population were infected. The death rate for Māori was estimated at 42 per thousand (approx 2,160 deaths) compared to 5.6 per 1000 (6,400 deaths) for European New Zealanders.[1]
Incumbents
Regal and viceregal
- Head of State - George V
- Governor-General - The Earl of Liverpool [2]
Government
The 19th New Zealand Parliament continued for a fourth year as a grand coalition led by the Reform Party.
- Speaker of the House - Frederic Lang (Reform Party)
- Prime Minister - William Massey (Reform Party)
- Minister of Finance - Joseph Ward (Liberal Party)
Parliamentary opposition
- Leader of the Opposition - Joseph Ward (Liberal Party) Ward retained that title even though he was part of the coalition government.[3]
Main centre leaders
- Mayor of Auckland - James Gunson
- Mayor of Hamilton - John William Ellis then John Robert Fow
- Mayor of Wellington - John Luke
- Mayor of Christchurch - Henry Holland
- Mayor of Dunedin - James John Clark
Events
- 19-20 March: Raetihi Forest Fire kills 3 and destroys over 150 homes.[4]
- Early October: The first cases of Spanish flu are recorded in Auckland.[5]
- 12 October: Troop ship R.M.S. Niagara returns, carrying a number of people ill with influenza. It is not quarantined. William Massey and Joseph Ward are aboard. Although later cited as the cause of the Spanish flu epidemic 6 persons had already died in the 3 days preceding its arrival.[6]
- December: The flu epidemic eases. Over 8600 have died including at least 1260 Māori.[5]
Undated
- Parliament moves into Parliament House although it is not yet completed.[7]
- Aviation Act 1918, to control aviation in New Zealand, is passed by Parliament.[8]
Arts and literature
See 1918 in art, 1918 in literature, Category:1918 books
Music
See: 1918 in music
Film
See: Category:1918 film awards, 1918 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, Category:1918 films
Sport
Golf
- The New Zealand Open championship was not held due to the war.[9]
Horse racing
Harness racing
- New Zealand Trotting Cup: Author Dillon [10]
- Auckland Trotting Cup: Harold Junior [11]
Rugby union
- The Ranfurly Shield (held by Wellington) is not contested as interprovincial matches are cancelled due to the war.
Soccer
Provincial league champions:[12]
- Auckland: North Shore
- Canterbury: Excelsior
- Hawke's Bay: Waipukurau
- Otago: Southern Dunedin
- Southland: No competition
- Wanganui: No competition
- Wellington: Porirua
Births
- 7 January: Colin Snedden, cricket player and commentator
- 15 January: Arthur Kinsella, politician.[13]
- 26 February: Lloyd Geering, theologian.
- 7 April: Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu, soldier, V.C. winner
- 27 June: Edgar Kain, ("Cobber" Kain) first RAF pilot to win DFC in WWII.
- 8 August: Logan Sloane, politician.
- 15 September: Phil Lamason, WWII pilot - DFC and bar.
- 24 October: Frank O'Flynn, politician.
Category:1918 births
Deaths
- 31 July: Henry Suter, zoologist.
- 4 September: Robert Fletcher, politician.
- 11 September: Desmond J. Scott, fighter pilot.[14]
- 18 November: David Buick, politician.[15]
- 10 December: Francis Petre, architect.
- Harry Bedford, politician.
- Charles Johnston, politician.
- Victor Spencer, last soldier to be executed in World War I
Category:1918 deaths
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
References
- ↑ Chch City Libraries website gathered 17/07/2006
- ↑ Statistics New Zealand: New Zealand Official Yearbook, 1990. ISSN 0078-0170 page 52
- ↑ "Elections NZ - Leaders of the Opposition". Retrieved 6 April 2008.
- ↑ Te ARa Encyclopedia of New Zealand: Disasters and Mishaps - The Raetihi Conflagration
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 New Zealand History online: The 1918 flu pandemic
- ↑ New Zealand History online: RMS Niagara - the 1918 influenza pandemic
- ↑ New Zealand Parliament - Parliament timeline
- ↑ Rendel, David (1975) Civil Aviation in New Zealand: An Illustrated History. Wellington. A.H. & A.W.Reed. ISBN 0-589-00905-2
- ↑ "PGA European - Holden New Zealand Open". The Sports Network. 2005. Retrieved 25 March 2009.
- ↑ List of NZ Trotting cup winners
- ↑ Auckland Trotting cup at hrnz.co.nz
- ↑ "New Zealand: List of champions". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 1999.
- ↑ Arnold Pickmere (13 March 2004). "Obituary: Arthur Kinsella". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
- ↑ NZ fighter museum
- ↑ Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.
External links
Media related to 1918 in New Zealand at Wikimedia Commons
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