Halcyon: denoting a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy, peaceful, and characterized by undisturbed success.

The term traces back to the ancient Greek myth of Alcyone. According to the legend, she would calm the seas so she could lay her eggs on a floating nest during the winter solstice. Hence, “halcyon days” came to mean times of peace and tranquility.

“Many consider the 1950s and 1960s were halcyon years in NZ, when house prices were low, a family only needed one income and there was optimism with minimal social unrest.”