Liberal, who had been in government for the past 21 years, claimed that Reform did not have a mandate, since many of their seats were the smaller rural electorates, and the Liberals proceeded to form a government underJoseph Ward as per the previous two parliaments.
Such were the loyalties of the independent members that votes were often deadlocked and dependent upon the casting vote of theSpeaker. As a result, Joseph Ward resigned on 28 March, to be succeeded by agriculture ministerThomas Mackenzie. However, the government was defeated on the next occasion that parliament met, and the first Reform Government was formed underWilliam Massey in July.
10 July –William Massey sworn in as Prime Minister after the Liberal Party loses a vote of no confidence.
September–October: French directorGaston Méliès and a company of film-makers make eight films in New Zealand including the first New Zealand feature films; seeThe River Wanganui.
October – Waihi Goldmining Company reopens the mine withscab labour.
Malcolm Champion was a member of the Australasian team which won the gold medal in the Men's 4 × 200 m Freestyle Relay at the1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm.
^McLintock, A. H., ed. (1966)."Men's Golf - National Champions".An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand. Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved13 February 2009.
Media related to1912 in New Zealand at Wikimedia Commons