26 May 2014

NZ Retro - The Year 1959

From Afternoons, 1:26 pm on 26 May 2014

In 1959 the Kapuni No. 1 oil well was "spudded in" and we were producing our own petrol in commercial quantities within a few years. The British written "Janet & John" infant reading books were replaced by a more New Zealand focused series. And the Decimal Coinage Committee reported back to Parliament. Among their recommendations for a name for our currency were, The Zeal, The Kiwi, The Tui and The Fern - but we went with the dollar instead, although not for another eight years.