It was 50 years ago: What the Beatles thought of NZ

The Beatles with support act Johnny Devlin (John Baker collection)

Was Aotearoa in 1964 nothing to write home about? Here's what the Fab Four thought of their week in New Zealand ....

John Lennon on the Auckland civic reception: "It was one of the quickest and most pleasant receptions we've been to. We went out onto the balcony and waved to the crowd, and some Maoris danced for us, and away we went.

"The Lord Mayor was very nice and said, 'I wouldn't have blamed you if you hadn't come, with all the fuss they've been making around here'"

Paul McCartney on the Wellington welcome: "This is one of the most fabulous welcomes we have ever had."

On the reserve shown by the audience at their first Wellington show: "I suppose it's all to do with the migration of solid English families to New Zealand. They are a lot quieter."

On the Wellington Town Hall's sound system: "We have sung through worse mics, but not very often; usually during the early days. We expected better here."

Reflecting on his previous time playing in New Zealand when he was here for a solo show at Western Springs in 1993: Now the people sort of cheer and clap more at the end of the songs and tend to listen during the songs." McCartney and band managed more Beatles songs in 1993 his set than he did when he was here with the Beatles.

George Harrison reflecting on the tour years later: "When we were flying into New Zealand, it looked like England -- like Devon, with cows and sheep. But in those days we were looking for some action, and there was absolutely nothing happening. We were in a hotel room, sitting around eating fish and chips with peas, and watching television. And suddenly, at about nine o'clock at night, the channels all closed down. So we threw our dinners at the TV.

Ringo Starr on the early shows: "We have not had a more restrained and conservative welcome. The kids are far wilder everywhere else."

Reflecting on the tour years later: We had a good time. It was early days, and we were going around the world and being well received. I remember on that tour, we had a Sunday off and we were sitting watching TV in the hotel room, and there was a programme on the coalmining industry, then a programme on the fishing industry. All day long it was, like, the weirdest TV we'd ever seen."

"The most notable thing that happened in New Zealand (although it wasn't very good) was that the drummer from Sounds Incorporated had a girl in his room who tried to slash her wrists whilst he was out at the pub. I remember Derek (Taylor, the band's publicist) panicking as the story was immediately on the wire service all over the world: "Suicide Attempt in Beatle Hotel."