27 March – A
Tasman Empire Airways Limited (TEAL) Lockheed L-188 Electra on a training flight crashes and catches fire on landing at
Whenuapai Airport. All occupants escape with only one minor injury.[5]
11 April –
Qantas launches the first trans-Tasman jet service, between Christchurch and Sydney using
Boeing 707 aircraft.[6]
13 April – An explosion and fire at the General Plastics factory in
Masterton kills four people and injures four others.[7]
April – The
HVDC Inter-Island link is completed, connecting the North Island's electricity network and the South Island's electricity network together.
27 May – Vietnam War: Prime Minister Keith Holyoake announces New Zealand will send its first combat forces, an artillery battery, to South Vietnam.[9][10]
20 July – A 33-hour
prison riot breaks out at
Mount Eden Prison, Auckland, with inmates setting fire to large parts of the prison.[11]
Television in the "four main centres" (Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin) is now broadcast seven nights a week. Broadcasting now totals 50 hours a week.
The Northern League is formed, incorporating top teams from Northland, Auckland, Franklin and Waikato. The first League champions are
Eastern Suburbs of Auckland.[21]
27 March – A
Tasman Empire Airways Limited (TEAL) Lockheed L-188 Electra on a training flight crashes and catches fire on landing at
Whenuapai Airport. All occupants escape with only one minor injury.[5]
11 April –
Qantas launches the first trans-Tasman jet service, between Christchurch and Sydney using
Boeing 707 aircraft.[6]
13 April – An explosion and fire at the General Plastics factory in
Masterton kills four people and injures four others.[7]
April – The
HVDC Inter-Island link is completed, connecting the North Island's electricity network and the South Island's electricity network together.
27 May – Vietnam War: Prime Minister Keith Holyoake announces New Zealand will send its first combat forces, an artillery battery, to South Vietnam.[9][10]
20 July – A 33-hour
prison riot breaks out at
Mount Eden Prison, Auckland, with inmates setting fire to large parts of the prison.[11]
Television in the "four main centres" (Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin) is now broadcast seven nights a week. Broadcasting now totals 50 hours a week.
The Northern League is formed, incorporating top teams from Northland, Auckland, Franklin and Waikato. The first League champions are
Eastern Suburbs of Auckland.[21]