New Zealand entered into the Korean War - a total of 4,700 New Zealanders served in Korea. New Zealand also was involved in the Malayan Emergency.
The New Zealand Legislative Council was abolished, see Suicide squad.
The 1950 British Empire Games was held in Auckland.
Wool prices boomed, tripling during the year, due to U.S. stockpiling as a reaction to the Korean war. This was offset somewhat by increases in the prices of other (imported) commodities, but began the biggest economic boom of the 20th century in New Zealand.
Estimated population as of 31 December: 1,927,700Increase since 31 December 1949: 35,600 (1.88%)Males per 100 females: 100.7Regal and viceregal
Head of State - George VIGovernor-General - Lieutenant-General The Lord Freyberg VC GCMG KCB KBE DSOThe 29th New Zealand Parliament continued. In power was the newly elected National government under Sidney Holland of the National Party.
Speaker of the House - Robert McKeen then Mathew OramPrime Minister - Sidney HollandDeputy Prime Minister - Keith HolyoakeMinister of Finance - Sidney HollandMinister of Foreign Affairs - Frederick DoidgeAttorney-General - Clifton WebbLeader of the Opposition - Peter Fraser (Labour) until his death on 5 August, then vacant until January 1951.Main centre leaders
Mayor of Auckland - John AllumMayor of Hamilton - Harold CaroMayor of Wellington - Will Appleton then Robert MacalisterMayor of Christchurch - Ernest Andrews then Robert M. MacfarlaneMayor of Dunedin - Donald Cameron then Leonard Morton Wright4 January: Start of the 4th British Empire Games in Auckland.Arts and literature
See 1950 in art, 1950 in literature, Category:1950 books
See: 1950 in music
See: Public broadcasting in New Zealand
See: Category:1950 film awards, 1950 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, Category:1950 films
George Bromley wins his third national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:55:07 in Napier.The 57th National Chess Championship was held in Auckland, and was won by P. Allerhand of Wellington (his second win).New Zealand Trotting Cup: ChamferAuckland Trotting Cup: Victory GlobeThe British and Irish Lions, captained by Karl Mullen, toured the country, losing three tests to the All Blacks and drawing one.
Category:Rugby union in New Zealand, Category:All Blacks
Ranfurly ShieldNew Zealand national rugby league team
The Chatham Cup is won by Eden who beat Technical Old Boys 3—2 after extra time in the final.Provincial league champions:Auckland: Eastern Suburbs AFCCanterbury: Technical OBHawke's Bay: WatersidersNelson: WoodbourneOtago: Northern AFCSouth Canterbury: Northern HeartsSouthland: BrigadiersTaranaki: CityWaikato: Claudelands RoversWanganui: Wanganui AthleticWellington: Seatoun AFC3 January: Robert Oliver, road and track cyclist5 January: Matt Robson, politician26 February: Helen Clark, Prime Minister of New Zealand, 1999–20086 April: Muriel Newman, politician29 April: Paul Holmes, radio and television broadcaster24 May: Allison Durbin, singer13 June: Pete Hodgson, politician17 June: Lee Tamahori, film director24 June: David Aspin, wrestler1 August: John Britten, engineer and inventor12 August: Ken Shirley, politician26 September: Andy Haden, rugby player9 November: Parekura Horomia, politician10 December: Simon Owen, golfer13 December: Ruth Richardson, politician(in Hungary): George Baloghy, painterDavid Benson-Pope, politicianGodwin Bradbeer, painterAlan Duff, writerStephen Franks, politician and political commentatorGreg McGee, screenwriter and playwrightJohn McKinnon, diplomat and public servantJudith Mayhew, lawyer and academicStephen Parke, physicistKura Te Waru Rewiri, painter23 March: Paddy Webb, politician14 July: Apirana Ngata, Māori politician and lawyer.11 December: Leslie Comrie, New Zealand astronomer and computing pioneer.12 December: Peter Fraser, 24th Prime Minister of New Zealand.William Twigg-Smith, painter (in Hawaii). 