Flavour of New Zealand

22-Jan-1962
Wellington takes on Venetian air when torrential rains flood the streets up to 2 ft deep. ¹

27-Jan-1962
The amazing Peter Snell smashes world mile record at Cook's Gardens Wanganui, hitting the tape at 3 minutes and 54.4 seconds. A week later he established two more new world marks, the 880 yards and the 800 metres at Christchurch. ¹

15-Mar-1962
27,000 ton Dominion Monarch leaves Wellington for last time after 23 years on UK-NZ run. Rangitiki and Rangitoto also made last voyage this year. ¹

01-Apr-1962
The govermnet department New Zealand Broadcasting Service (NZBS) became a corporation (NZBC), a move prompted by the advent of television. It provided more independence which was seen in the decision to start a proper radio and television news service - a move politicians had not always encouraged. ³

14-May-1962
George Wilder escaped from New Plymouth jail and was at large for 65 days. ³

23-May-1962
Dunedin's new airport at Momona was opened on the Taieri Plains. ³

09-Jul-1962
The Australia-New Zealand-Fiji link in the COMPAC cable opened. The cable was to meet the increasing overseas phone calls, growing by about 25 per cent a year to a 1962 total of 32,000. ³

12-Jul-1962
Sensational expulsion of Russian diplomats in Wellington for espionage activities; Vladislav Andreev and Nikolai Shytkov. ¹

11-Aug-1962
New road-rail ferry Aramoana (arrived on July 26) smacks into Picton wharf on first official crossing after being caught by heavy gust of wind; 30 ft of ship and wharf damaged. ¹

13-Sep-1962
Lord and lady Cobham leave New Zealand after five years at Government House. ¹

19-Nov-1962
Barrie Davenport swims Cook Strait. ¹