50 Memorable NZ photos since 1950s - 2010s

A DigitalNZ Story by Zokoroa

Photographs capturing 50 moments in NZ history since 1950s - 2010s that have lingered on in the memory

New Zealand, NZ, History, Sport, Politics, Music, Culture, Animals, Photographs

Enduring Moment:

When you think back over the many photographs you have seen in the media, what is the most powerful, enduring image that has lingered on in your memory? Here is a profound moment captured in time with Whina Cooper:

Image: Whina Cooper and her moko

Whina Cooper & granddaughter on hikoi (1975)

Setting off on the hikoi (the land march) from Far North to Wellington

Whina Cooper and her moko

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

TRAGIC MOMENTS: 

Image: Divers inspecting the sunken Wahine

Inter-island ferry Wahine capsizes (1968)

Divers inspecting the sunken Wahine

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Destroyed railway bridge at Tangiwai

Rail disaster at Tangiwai (1953)

Destroyed railway bridge at Tangiwai

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Crash site on Mt Erebus

Mt Erebus disaster (1979)

Crash site on Mt Erebus

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Rainbow Warrior after the bombing

Sinking of Rainbow Warrior (1985)

Rainbow Warrior after the bombing

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: The cathedral

Christchurch earthquakes (2010-2011)

The cathedral

eqnz.chch.2010

Image: Containers falling off the Rena

Rena sinking off Tauranga & oil salvage operations (2011)

Containers falling off the Rena

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Peter Snell, Rome, 1960

Peter Snell wins Olympic gold at Rome (1960) & Tokyo (1964)

1960: 800m; 1964: 800m & 1500m (with Kiwi John Davies getting the bronze)

Peter Snell, Rome, 1960

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Murray Halberg, Rome, 1960

Murray Halberg wins Olympic gold at Rome for 5000m (1960)

Murray Halberg, Rome, 1960

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: New Zealand rowing eight team, Munich, 1972

NZ rowing eight triumphant at Munich (1972)

New Zealand rowing eight team, Munich, 1972

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: FRESH UP JUICE. WALKER WINS THE GOLD

John Walker wins Olympic gold at Montreal for 1500m (1976)

FRESH UP JUICE. WALKER WINS THE GOLD

Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision

Image: Sarah Ulmer

Sarah Ulmer wins Olympic gold at Athens (2004)

Won 3000-metre individual pursuit race

Sarah Ulmer

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: The Evers-Swindell twins' Beijing victory, 2008

Caroline & Georgina Evers-Swindell win Olympic gold (2004 & 2008)

The Evers-Swindell twins' Beijing victory, 2008

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Valerie Vili, Beijing, 2008

Valerie Adams wins Olympic gold (2008, 2012)

Awards also include: 4x World champion, and 4x World Indoor champion

Valerie Vili, Beijing, 2008

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Lisa Carrington on world records & Rio

Lisa Carrington wins Olympic gold (2013 & 2016)

Lisa Carrington on world records & Rio

Radio New Zealand

Triumphant moments:

Image: Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, Nepal - Mt Everest

Edmund Hillary & Tenzing Norgay atop Mt Everest (1953)

Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, Nepal - Mt Everest

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

 Also see Wikipedia's List of New Zealand sportspeople for other sporting triumphs. 

Image: Godfrey Bowen shearing a sheep, 1953

Godfrey Bowen sets shearing world record (1953)

Godfrey Bowen shearing a sheep, 1953

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Valerie Young, 1958

Val Young wins five Commonwealth Games gold medals (1958 - 1974)

Won the most gold medals (5) of any NZ competitor and national titles (37 in shotput, discus, pentathlon)

Valerie Young, 1958

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Eve Rimmer

Eve Rimmer wins Paralympics events (1966, 1972, 1976, 1980)

Won 14 medals (including 8 gold) in javelin, shot put, discus, swimming, archery & Pentathlon

Eve Rimmer

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Yvette Williams at the Empire Games, 1950

Yvette Williams wins British Empire Games (1950) & Olympic gold at Helsinki for long jump (1952)

Photo of Yvette winning long jump at British Empire Games in Auckland (1950) & won Olympic gold two years later

Yvette Williams at the Empire Games, 1950

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Den. Hulme (Copy from Magazine)

Denny Hulme is Formula 1 World Champion (1967)

Den. Hulme (Copy from Magazine)

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

Image: Ivan Mauger

Ivan Mauger - Speedway champion (1968-1976)

Ivan Mauger

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Allison Roe in the New York Marathon, 1981

Allison Roe wins Boston & NY City marathons (1981)

Allison Roe in the New York Marathon, 1981

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: All Black captain David Kirk with the Webb Ellis Cup at Eden Park, Auckland

Rugby World Cup winners (1987, 2011, 2015)

All Black captain David Kirk with the Webb Ellis Cup at Eden Park, Auckland

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Barbara Kendall

Barbara Kendall in action winning gold (1992), silver (1996) & bronze (2000)

Barbara Kendall

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Team NZ wins America's Cup: RNZ Checkpoint

Team NZ wins America's Cup (1995, 2000, 2017)

Team NZ wins America's Cup: RNZ Checkpoint

Radio New Zealand

Image: Farah Palmer with women's rugby World Cup

Black Ferns win Women's Rugby World Cup (1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2017)

Farah Palmer with women's rugby World Cup

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Defenders: Casey Williams

Silver Ferns win World Cup (1967, 1979, 1987, 2003 & 2019)

Also won the Commonwealth Games in 2006 & 2010

Defenders: Casey Williams

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

celebrity animal moments:

Image: Shrek the sheep

Shrek the unshorn sheep (2004)

Shrek made international headlines when he was finally caught after 6 years & shorn of his massive 27-kilogram fleece

Shrek the sheep

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: The story of Opo

Opo the dolphin playing at Opononi (1955)

The story of Opo

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Mark Todd on Charisma, Seoul, 1988

Charisma and Mark Todd winning Olympic gold (1984 & 1988)

Mark Todd on Charisma, Seoul, 1988

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Rastus the motorcycle-riding cat

Rastus, the motorcycling cat, and Max Corkill raised funds for the SPCA (1990s)

Rastus the motorcycle-riding cat

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Search for Sirocco

Sirocco the kākāpō given title of Official Spokesbird for Conservation (2010)

Sirocco featured on BBC television series "Last Chance to See" (2009)

Search for Sirocco

Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai

Image: Happy Feet Release

"Happy Feet" - Emperor Penguin (2011)

Was found on the Kapiti Coast & taken to Wellington Zoo; then released off Tangaroa ship en route to Campbell Islands

Happy Feet Release

NIWA

Image: Stranded cows rescued from quake island near Kaikoura

Stranded cows rescued after Kaikoura earthquake (2016)

Stranded cows rescued from quake island near Kaikoura

TV3

POLITICAL MOMENTS:  

Image: Student protest for action on climate change

Students in climate change marches around NZ (2019)

Student protest for action on climate change

Palmerston North City Library

Image: Vietnam War protest, 1967

Anti-Vietnam War demonstrations (Late 1960s - early 70s)

Vietnam War protest, 1967

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Queen Te Atairangikaahu, 1966

Māori Queen crowned (1966)

Princess Piki was chosen to become the first Māori Queen and sixth Māori monarch

Queen Te Atairangikaahu, 1966

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Pirate broadcaster

Radio Hauraki broadcast from a ‘pirate’ ship anchored outside NZ waters (1966-70)

Pirate broadcaster

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Protestors enveloped in banner 'Return Takaparawhā to Ngāti Whātua Bastion Point Not For Sale' resisting police

Bastion Point protest (1982)

Protestors enveloped in banner 'Return Takaparawhā to Ngāti Whātua Bastion Point Not For Sale' resisting police

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

Image: Are We There Yet? Women and Equality in Aotearoa - Auckland Museum

Suffrage 125 celebrations (2018)

Are We There Yet? Women and Equality in Aotearoa - Auckland Museum

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

Popular culture moments: 

Image: The Beatles at Wellington Airport during their New Zealand tour

NZ welcoming the Beatles (1964)

The Beatles at Wellington Airport during their New Zealand tour

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: The first Sweetwaters festival

Sweetwaters festival at Ngāruawāhia (1980)

The first Sweetwaters festival

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Miss Universe Lorraine Downes, 1983

Lorraine Downes crowned Miss Universe (1983)

Miss Universe Lorraine Downes, 1983

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Goodnight Kiwi

Goodnight Kiwi animation on TVNZ (1981-1994)

Goodnight Kiwi

NZ On Screen

Image: Lorde with her Grammy awards, 2014

Lorde's song 'Royals' reaching no. 1 in US & wins Grammy awards (2013-14)

Lorde with her Grammy awards, 2014

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Out of this world moments:

USER STORY
Image: The Moon Landing

TVNZ screening Apollo II moon landing (1969)

The Moon Landing

DigitalNZ

Additional resources: