1955 in New Zealand

Population

* Estimated Population as of 31 December: 2,164,800 http://www.stats.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/24107FC8-E7B5-4CF2-B17C-15E31CCA7D05/0/HistoricalPop.xls]
* Increase since 31/12/1954: 46,400 (2.19%)
* 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 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 December 13, 1949 to September 20, 1957.
*Deputy Prime Minister - Keith Holyoake from December 13, 1949 to September 20, 1957.
*Minister of Finance - Jack Watts from November 1954 until September 20, 1957
*Minister of Foreign Affairs - Thomas MacDonald from November 26, 1954 until December 12, 1957

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

* A pulp and paper mill opens at Kawerau
* The Rimutaka rail tunnel opened

Arts and literature

See 1955 in art, 1955 in literature,

Music

See: 1955 in music

Radio

See: Public broadcasting in New Zealand

Film

See: , 1955 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

See: 1955 in sports , , Summer Olympic Games (See and Winter Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games (Check name).
*Athletics:Arthur Lydiard wins his second national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:42:34 in Auckland.

*Rugby: , Super 14, Rugby Union World Cup, National Provincial Championship , , Bledisloe Cup , Tri Nations Series , Ranfurly Shield
*Cricket: Various Tours, New Zealand cricket team , Chappell-Hadlee Trophy , Cricket World Cup
*Gold: New Zealand Open , Check in overseas tourniments.
*Horse racing: See , list winners.
*Rugby league New Zealand Warriors , Bartercard Cup , New Zealand national rugby league team , Rugby League World Cup
*Netball: Silver Ferns , National Bank Cup , Netball World Championships
*Soccer: New Zealand champions (soccer) , New Zealand Football Championship , New Zealand National Soccer League , New Zealand national soccer team , Chatham Cup ,
*Basketball: Tall Blacks , New Zealand Breakers
*Other Sports

Births

* 16 January: Steve Wooddin, soccer player.
* 14 February: Margaret Knighton, equestrian eventer.
* 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.
* 1 November: Anne Audain, middle and long-distance athlete.
* November 12: Roger Sumich, cyclist.
* November 26: 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. ["New Zealand Parliamentary Record 1840-1984" by J. O. Wilson (1985, Government Printer, Wellington) ]

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 1955 not specifically related to New Zealand see": 1955