Puneet Varma (Editor)

1918 in New Zealand

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Decades:
  
1890s1900s1910s1920s1930s

See also:
  
Other events of 1918Timeline of New Zealand history

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.

Contents

Regal and viceregal

  • Head of State - George V
  • Governor-General - The Earl of Liverpool

    • 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.

    • 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.
  • Early October: The first cases of Spanish flu are recorded in Auckland.
  • 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.
  • December: The flu epidemic eases. Over 8600 have died including at least 1260 Māori.

    • Undated

  • Parliament moves into Parliament House although it is not yet completed.
  • Aviation Act 1918, to control aviation in New Zealand, is passed by Parliament.

    • 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

    Golf

  • The New Zealand Open championship was not held due to the war.

    • Harness racing

  • New Zealand Trotting Cup: Author Dillon
  • Auckland Trotting Cup: Harold Junior

    • Rugby union

  • The Ranfurly Shield (held by Wellington) is not contested as interprovincial matches are cancelled due to the war.

    • Soccer

    Provincial league champions:

  • Auckland: North Shore
  • Canterbury: Excelsior
  • Hawke's Bay: Waipukurau
  • Otago: Southern Dunedin
  • Southland: No competition
  • Wanganui: No competition
  • Wellington: Porirua

    • References

    1918 in New Zealand Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA


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