1918 in New Zealand.html



1918 in New Zealand:

Other years in New Zealand

1915 • 1916 • 1917 • 1918 • 1919 • 1920 • 1921

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 8000 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 Vice Regal

• 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

Appointments and awards

See: New Zealand Order of Merit , Order of New Zealand

• Archbishop of New Zealand
• Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia , see appointments to Diocese

Sport

• See: 1918 in sports , Category:1918 in sports
• Rugby: Category:Rugby union in New Zealand Ranfurly Shield
• Cricket: Various Tours, New Zealand cricket team
• Golf: New Zealand Open , Check Category:New Zealand golfers in overseas tourniments.
• Horse racing: See Category:New Zealand horse races, list winners.
• Rugby league New Zealand national rugby league team
• Soccer: Chatham Cup ,

Births

• 7 January: Colin Snedden, cricket player and commentator
• 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.

• Lloyd Geering, theologian.
• Arthur Kinsella, politician. ⁹
• Frank O'Flynn, politician.
• Logan Sloane, politician.

Category:1918 births

Deaths

• 31 July: Henry Suter, zoologist.
• 4 September: Robert Fletcher, politician.
• 11 September: Desmond J. Scott, fighter pilot. ¹⁰
• 18 November: David Buick, politician. ¹¹
• 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 environmental history of New Zealand
• Timeline of New Zealand's links with Antarctica

For world events and topics in 1918 not specifically related to New Zealand see: 1918

References