1880s
St John in New Zealand begins.
Christchurch centre of St John Ambulance Association
forms first, following a meeting on 30 April.
Association centres also form this year in Wellington,
Nelson and Invercargill.
Otago centre of Association forms.
1890s
First recorded case of St John aid on a sports field, at a
rugby match in Christchurch.
Auckland centre of Association forms.
Dunedin Ambulance Corps becomes first registered
overseas division of St John Ambulance Brigade.
Dunedin Nursing Corps becomes first registered
New Zealand nursing division, and launches home
nursing service two years later.
New Plymouth centre of Association forms.
St John members help in Rakaia rail disaster – first civil
disaster involving St John (11 March).
1900s
St John district nursing service forms in Wellington.
Former president of Association centre in Christchurch
becomes president of St John centres in New Zealand.
1910s
St John acquires what is probably its first motor
ambulance in New Zealand – in Timaru.
1918 Association and Brigade members offer distinguished
service during flu pandemic.
1920s
Wanganui, Timaru and Invercargill centres of the Association form.
First New Zealand Cadet division of Brigade forms in Wanganui.
1930s
Association and Brigade members offer distinguished service in Hawkes Bay earthquake. St John Commandery in New Zealand forms in Wellington.
First recorded St John-sponsored use of aircraft for ambulance work.
1940s
Hawkes Bay centre of Association forms.
Manawatu centre of Association forms.
South Auckland centre of Association constitutes.
St John Commandery in New Zealand becomes a Priory.
1950s
Overseas Brigades reorganise, transferring control from London to national Priories.
Visit to New Zealand by Queen Elizabeth II, sovereign head of St John, and Duke of Edinburgh.
1960s
First mixed Cadet divisions of Brigade start in New Zealand.
St John personnel offer valuable service during Mt Eden Prison riots (20–21 July).
Wairarapa centre and Nelson and Marlborough centre of Association form.
1970s
Bay of Plenty centre reorganises, and Waikato and King
Country centre forms. Royal charter gives women members of St John equal
rights with men in governance.
National Telethon raises $593,767 for St John ambulance
officer training in New Zealand (5-6 July).
1980s
Brigade and ambulance services help the injured during
nationwide protests against the visit of the South African
rugby team.
Centenary of St John Ambulance Association in
New Zealand. Festivities attended by Grand Prior and his
wife, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester (Easter).
Association and Brigade merge in New Zealand under the
single name St John.
St John Cadets in New Zealand become known as St John Youth.
1990s
St John begins selling St John Lifelink medical alarms –
a service helping elderly or disabled people remain
independent in their own homes.
St John launches Caring Caller telephone support service
in Auckland after successful 12-month trial.
2000s
New Zealand hosts international St John meetings in
Wellington.
St John led a nationwide project to consolidate and
upgrade the country’s ambulance communications centres
New national structure for St John in New Zealand comes
into effect. Services rationalised and standardised to
enhance delivery and effectiveness.
St John Friends of the Emergency Department launched
in Auckland – volunteers supporting patients and families
in hospital emergency departments.
New St John uniform introduced in New Zealand.
A single national management structure was introduced
for a number of operational responsibilities – to improve
efficiency and ensure consistent, coordinated services.
St John entered a community partnership with ASB, to
increase St John profile, fundraising and services.
Māori King Tuheitia Paki is made an Officer of St John at
Turangawaewae Marae, Ngaruawahia.
St John publishes First to Care: 125 Years of the Order of
St John in New Zealand, 1885–2010, by Graeme Hunt.
St John celebrates 125 years in New Zealand.