1955 in New Zealand

← 1954 1953 1952 1955 in New Zealand → 1956 1957 1958
Decades:	1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s
See also:	Other events of 1955 Timeline of New Zealand history

Population

• Estimated population as of 31 December: 2,164,800^[1]
• Increase since 31 December 1954: 46,400 (2.19%)
• Males per 100 females: 101.2

Incumbents

Regal and viceregal

• Head of State – Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand, from 6 February 1952
• Governor-General – Lieutenant-General The Lord Norrie GCMG GCVO CB DSO MC, from 1952-1957^[2]

Government

The 31st New Zealand Parliament continued. In power was the National government under Sidney Holland.

• Speaker of the House – Mathew Oram from 1950 to 1957
• Prime Minister – Sidney Holland from 13 December 1949 to 20 September 1957.
• Deputy Prime Minister – Keith Holyoake from 13 December 1949 to 20 September 1957.
• Minister of Finance – Jack Watts from November 1954 until 20 September 1957
• Minister of Foreign Affairs – Tom Macdonald from 26 November 1954 until 12 December 1957

Parliamentary opposition

• Leader of the Opposition – Walter Nash (Labour).^[3]

Main centre leaders

• Mayor of Auckland – John Luxford from 1953 to 1956
• Mayor of Hamilton – Roderick Alastair MacDonald Braithwaite from 1953 to 1959
• Mayor of Wellington – Robert Macalister from 1950 to 1956
• Mayor of Christchurch – Robert M. Macfarlane from 1938 to 1941 and again from 1950 to 1958
• Mayor of Dunedin – Leonard Morton Wright from 1950 to 1959

Events

• A pulp and paper mill opens at Kawerau
• The Rimutaka rail tunnel opened
• The Marriage Act 1955 is passed

Arts and literature

See 1955 in art, 1955 in literature, Category:1955 books

Music

See: 1955 in music

Radio

See: Public broadcasting in New Zealand

Film

See: Category:1955 film awards, 1955 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, Category:1955 films

Sport

Athletics

Arthur Lydiard wins his second national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:42:34 in Auckland.

Chess

• The 62nd National Chess Championship was held in Auckland, and was won by Ortvin Sarapu of Auckland (his 4th successive title).^[4]

Horse racing

Harness racing

• New Zealand Trotting Cup: Our Roger^[5]
• Auckland Trotting Cup: Prince Polka^[6]

Soccer

• The Chatham Cup is won by Western of Christchurch who beat Eastern Suburbs of Auckland 6—2 in the final.^[7]
• New Zealand played 3 matches against South China Athletic^[8]
  • 18 June, Christchurch – 1-1 draw
  • 2 July, Wellington – NZ win 7-4
  • 9 July, Auckland – NZ lose 3-5
• Provincial league champions:^[9]
  • Auckland: Mount Albert GSOB
  • Bay of Plenty: Mangakino Utd
  • Buller: Millerton Thistle
  • Canterbury: Western
  • Hawke's Bay: Napier Rovers
  • Manawatu: Kiwi United
  • Nelson: Motueka
  • Northland: Otangarei United
  • Otago: King Edward Technical College OB
  • Poverty Bay: Eastern Union
  • South Canterbury: West End
  • Southland: Invercargill Thistle
  • Taranaki: Old Boys
  • Waikato: Huntly Thistle
  • Wanganui: Wanganui Athletic
  • Wellington: Stop Out

Births

• 16 January: Steve Wooddin, soccer player^[10]
• 14 February: Margaret Knighton, equestrian eventer^[11]
• 31 March: Robert Vance, cricketer
• 2 April: Steve Sumner, soccer player
• 21 April: Tuheitia Paki, Māori King
• 27 May: Graham 'Jock' Edwards, cricketer
• 1 June: Lorraine Moller, long-distance athlete
• 19 June: Mary O'Connor, long-distance runner
• 29 September: Mark Graham, rugby league footballer and coach
• 1 November: Anne Audain, middle and long-distance athlete
• 12 November: Roger Sumich, cyclist
• 26 November: Barbara Tilden, field hockey player
• 2 December: Mark Gosche, politician
• 7 December: Te Ururoa Flavell, politician

• David Hamilton, composer

Deaths

• 31 January: Bob Semple, trade union leader and politician.
• 7 September: Henry Braddon, rugby union player.

• William Stewart, politician.^[12]
• John Guthrie (at sea) journalist and novelist.

Category:1955 deaths

References

See also

• List of years in New Zealand
• Timeline of New Zealand history
• History of New Zealand
• Military history of New Zealand
• Timeline of the New Zealand environment
• Timeline of New Zealand's links with Antarctica