1954 in New Zealand

Population

* Estimated Population as of 31 December: 2,118,400 http://www.stats.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/24107FC8-E7B5-4CF2-B17C-15E31CCA7D05/0/HistoricalPop.xls]
* Increase since 31/12/1953: 43,700 (2.11%)
* Males per 100 Females: 101.2

Incumbents

Regal and Vice Regal

*Head of State - Queen 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 [Statistics New Zealand: "New Zealand Official Yearbook, 1990". ISSN 0078-0170 page 52]

Government

The 30th New Zealand Parliament expired this year. The National Party was elected to a third term in office under Sidney Holland on November 13.

*Speaker of the House - Mathew Oram from 1950 to 1957
*Prime Minister - Sidney Holland from December 13, 1949 to September 20, 1957.
*Deputy Prime Minister - Keith Holyoake from December 13, 1949 to September 20, 1957.
*Minister of Finance - Sidney Holland until November, followed by Jack Watts
*Minister of Foreign Affairs - Thomas Clifton Webb from September 19, 1951 to November 26, 1954, followed by Thomas MacDonald

Parliamentary opposition

* Leader of the Opposition - Walter Nash (Labour). [Cite web|url=http://www.elections.org.nz/democracy/leaders-opposition.html|title=Elections NZ - Leaders of the Opposition|accessdate=2008-04-06]

Main centre leaders

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

Events

* 12 January: 50,000 people mass in Wellington as Queen Elizabeth II attends the state opening of Parliament. [ [http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/timeline&new_date=12/01 Today in History | NZHistory ] ]
* 30 January: The Royal tour by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip concludes at Bluff as they depart on the SS Gothic [ [http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/media/video/queen-departing-from-bluff NZHistory.net - includes video] ]
*June 23 - Teenagers Pauline Parker and Juliet Hulme are arrested for the murder of Parker's mother.
*September 20 - the Mazengarb Report on Moral Delinquency in Children and Adolescents is presented to Parliament.
*November 8 - eighteen year old golf amateur Bob Charles causes a sensation by beating a top international field to win the New Zealand Golf Open
*November 13 - the National Party wins re-election at a general election
* Hastings becomes the first town in New Zealand to fluoridate its water supply [ [http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/0/AB32B58A8D61D9DACC256F47007C32BB (Ministry of Health)] ] .

Arts and literature

See 1954 in art, 1954 in literature,

Music

See: 1954 in music

Radio

See: Public broadcasting in New Zealand

Film

*The Seekers (film)

See: , 1954 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand,

Appointments and awards

See: New Zealand Order of Merit , Order of New Zealand
*Archbishop of New Zealand
*Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia , see appointments to Diocese

port

*Athletics:20 February: Yvette Williams breaks the world long jump record by jumping 20 feet 7 1/2 inches (6.28 metres) at Gisborne. [ [http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/timeline&new_date=20/02 nzhistory.net.nz] ] :Edwin Rye wins his first national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:35:45 on March 6 in Hamilton, New Zealand.

*Rugby: , , Bledisloe Cup , Ranfurly Shield
*Cricket: Various Tours, New Zealand cricket team , Chappell-Hadlee Trophy , Cricket World Cup
*Golf: New Zealand Open , Check in overseas tourniments.
*Horse racing: See , list winners.
*Rugby league New Zealand national rugby league team
*Netball: Silver Ferns
*Soccer: New Zealand Football Championship , New Zealand National Soccer League , New Zealand national soccer team , Chatham Cup ,

Births

* 17 March: Peter Dunne, politician
* 30 April: Jane Campion, film director.
* 11 May: Murray Haszard, technology entrepreneur.
* 15 June: Larry Ross, motorcycle speedway rider.
* 17 June: Trevor Mallard, politician
* 5 July: John Wright, cricket player and coach
* 24 October: Tu Wyllie, politician
* 18 November: Evan Gray, cricketer
* 24 December: Graham Sligo, field hockey player

Deaths

* 26 May: Frederick Doidge, former cabinet minister and New Zealand High Commissioner (London)
* 7 December: George William Smith, athlete, rugby union and league player.
* John Buckland Wright, engraver.

* Cyril Brownlie, rugby union player.
* Maurice Brownlie, rugby union player.
* Charles E. Major, politician.
* Arthur Stallworthy, politician.

References

ee also

*List of years in New Zealand
*Timeline of New Zealand history
*History of New Zealand
*Military history of New Zealand
*Timeline of environmental history of New Zealand
*Timeline of New Zealand's links with Antarctica

"For world events and topics in 1954 not specifically related to New Zealand see": 1954