1950 British Empire Games (Commonwealth Games in Auckland)

New Zealand hosted the fourth British Empire Games at Auckland in 1950. Held in the wake of the Second World War, the 1950 games were seen as strengthening New Zealand’s bonds with the old empire, especially Britain. Twelve countries sent teams, containing a total of 590 athletes. The only countries outside the old ‘white Commonwealth’ to attend were Ceylon, Malaya, Fiji and Nigeria. 

At the time it was the biggest international sporting event ever held in New Zealand. After the Second World War there had been doubts over whether the games would resume; there had been a break of 12 years. However, with a total attendance of 264,694 spectators the success of the Auckland games guaranteed the event’s continuance. 

Source: Olympic and Commonwealth games — New Zealand as the Commonwealth Games host, Te Ara — The Encyclopedia of New Zealand.

THE GAMES BEGIN

THE EVENTS

THE MEDAL WINNERS

Harold Nelson won the 6-mile race on the opening day, although his victory was not accorded the legendary status of Dick Tayler’s victory in 1974. Yvette Williams proved her ability as an all-round athlete, winning the long jump and gaining a silver medal in the javelin. By the end of the games, New Zealand had won 10 gold medals, 22 silver and 22 bronze. 

Source: Olympic and Commonwealth games — New Zealand as the Commonwealth Games host, Te Ara — The Encyclopedia of New Zealand.

LAKE KARĀPIRO

Lake Karāpiro is an 8 sq km lake formed in 1947 after the completion of a hydroelectric dam on the Waikato River upstream from Cambridge. Its potential to become the best rowing venue in a country with few straight sheltered courses was soon recognised. 

After the 1949 Dominion championships was successfully held there, Karāpiro was chosen as the site for the rowing events at the 1950 Empire Games – despite being 150 km from games headquarters in Auckland. The course was laid out at the western end of the lake, with the finish line 400 m from the dam.

Olympic medallist and former world professional champion Darcy Hadfield was a member of the sub-committee that organised the rowing events. Another former champion, Billy Webb, also went into camp at Karāpiro.

Raceday was 6 February (Waitangi Day), a Monday and not then a public holiday. The first of more than 20,000 spectators arrived in the early hours of the morning to grab the best positions. This was the biggest crowd at the Empire Games apart from those for the athletics at Eden Park, Auckland. The average admission price was 6s (equivalent to $20 in 2010, the price of the cheapest tickets at that year’s world championships).  

Source: Rowing in New Zealand — The world comes to Karāpiro, NZHistory.

ATHLETES FROM OTHER COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES

VIDEOS

ACTION AND CELEBRATION AT THE GAMES

This story was curated and compiled by Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa | National Library of New Zealand, Services to Schools staff, June 2022.