Aborigines gain full citizen rights in 1967 and become entitled to Social Security benefits.

Former public accountant and National party MP Robert David Muldoon becomes New Zealand’s finance minister in 1967.

He commits New Zealand troops to the Vietnam War.

In May, 1967, Texas oil billionaire Nelson Bunker Hunt allegedly uses a sophisticated satellite technique to discover a huge oil source south of New Zealand in the Great South Basin.

An unconfirmed rumor has Hunt and Muldoon allegedly concluding a June 1967 agreement that awards Hunt sole drilling rights in exchange for a US$100,000 non-repayable loan to Muldoon from Hunt’s Placid Oil Company.

On September 8, 1967, The New Zealand government grants Placid Oil drilling rights to the Great South Basin.

Holt backs up the United States with Australian troops in the Vietnam War, improves relations with China, relaxes some restrictions on Asian immigration and decimalizes Australian currency.

Holt disappears on December 16, 1967, while swimming in the ocean.

Sir John McEwen becomes prime minister during the brief interregnum that follows.