Today in History

1941 Death penalty abolished...for the time being

The Labour Party had long opposed capital punishment and, after it took office in 1935, it commuted all death sentences to life in prison. This policy was confirmed by the abolition of the death penalty for murder in 1941. It was reintroduced by the National government in 1950, and not finally removed from the statute book until 1961.

The 1941 Crimes Amendment Act also abolished flogging and whipping as punishments for murder, though these remained on the books for other crimes, including homosexual acts, until 1961.

The first execution in New Zealand was that of Maketu, a 16-year-old Maori, who was convicted at Auckland in 1842. In total there were 83 executions for murder and one for treason in New Zealand between 1842 and 1957.

After the restoration of the death penalty in 1950 there were 18 convictions for murder and eight executions between 1951 and 1957. Walter Bolton was the last to be executed when he was hanged at Mount Eden prison in 1957 for the murder of his wife. When Labour was returned to office in late 1957 the death penalty became inoperative.

In 1961 the matter was put to a conscience vote of Members of Parliament. Ten members of the National government voted with the Opposition and capital punishment was abolished (except for treason). The Abolition of the Death Penalty Act 1989 removed from the statute books execution as a punishment for 'Treason, mutiny and treachery' in the armed forces.