1861 in New Zealand

Incumbents

Regal and Vice Regal

*Head of State - Queen Victoria
*Governor – Colonel Thomas Gore Browne leaves office on 3 October to take up the post of Governor of Tasmania. His successor is Sir George Grey who takes up the position in December.

Government and law

The general election of 1860-1861 concludes on 28 March having begun on 12 December the previous year. The 3rd Parliament coommences.

*Speaker of the House – David Monro becomes Speaker after the retirement of Sir Charles Clifford the previous year.
*Premier – William Fox replaces Edward Stafford on 12 July after Stafford loses a vote of no-confidence.
*Minister of Finance – William Richmond loses the post on 12 July with the fall of the Fox government, and is replaced by Reader Wood.
*Chief Justice – Hon George Arney

Events

* 16 February: The "Southern News and Foveaux Strait's Herald" publishes its first issue. [Cite web|url=http://users.iconz.co.nz/kimo/family_tree/d0001/g0000060.htm|title=James Henry MARTIN|accessdate=2008-06-06] The paper will become daily by 1875 and change its name to "The Southland Daily News". It continues until 1968. [cite web|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=CL1.ST&essay=1&l=en|title=Southland Times|publisher=National Library of New Zealand]
* 28 February: The Government-sponsored Māori language magazine, "The Maori Messenger" or "Te Karere Maori" publishes its final issue and is replaced by "Te Manuhiri Tuarangi and Maori Intelligencer", which continues until 1863.cite web|url=http://www.stats.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/9E78F21A-EF20-4C82-934B-1587FC7489CC/0/StatPubschapter2.pdf|work=Statistical publications 1840-2000|title=Chapter 2: Early Statistical Sources – 19th Century|pages=p 11|format=PDF|publisher=Statistics New Zealand] [cite web|url=http://www.aucklandcitylibraries.com/findyoursubject/newszone/earlyaucklandareanewspapers.htm|title=Early Auckland area newspapers|publisher=Auckland City Libraries]
*21 March: "The Auckland Examiner", which started in 1856, ceases publication.
* 25 May: "The Press" publishes its first issue. It begins as a weekly newspaper, will move to bi-weekly in 1862, and becomes daily in 1863. It continues today. [cite web|url=http://library.christchurch.org.nz/Guides/Newspapers/History.asp|title=Newspapers Guide: Historical outline of the main Christchurch newspapers|publisher=Christchurch City Libraries]
* 15 November: The "Otago Daily Times" produces its first issue. The newspaper continues today. [cite web|url=http://www.alliedpress.co.nz/papers.php?pub=odt|title=Otago Daily Times|publisher=Allied Press]

Undated

* The Māori King Movement begins publication of "Te Hokioi o Nui-Tireni e Rere atu ra", which continues until 1863. [cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/P/Printing/GeneralSurvey/en|title=Printing - General Survey|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of New Zealand (1966)]

Arts and literature

Music

Appointments and awards

*Primate of New Zealand - George Augustus Selwyn (Bishop of Auckland)
*Bishop of Christchurch - Henry John Chitty Harper
*Bishop of Nelson - Edmund Hobhouse
*Bishop of Waiapu - William Williams
*Bishop of Wellington - Charles John Abraham

port

Cricket

Horse racing

Major race winner

*New Zealand Derby winner: Otto

Rowing

hooting

The first National Rifle Shooting Championships is held. This is the oldest national championships in New Zealand in any sport. The Championships are held in conjunction with various district contests until the first centralised Championships at Trentham in 1902.Todd, S. (1976) "Sporting Records of New Zealand." Auckland: Moa Publications. ISBN 0-908570-00-7]

The winner receives the Championship Belt (and Pouch). In 1907 the belt is won outright by A. Ballinger and it is renamed the Ballinger Belt. This name has been applied retroactively to the Championship since it’s inception.

Ballinger Belt: Lieutenant Brighton (Auckland)

Births

* 12 June: James Gardiner, Australian politician.

Unknown date

* William Stewart, politician. ["New Zealand Parliamentary Record 1840-1984" by J. O. Wilson (1985, Government Printer, Wellington) ]

Deaths

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 1861 not specifically related to New Zealand see": 1861

References

;General
* Romanos, J. (2001) "New Zealand Sporting Records and Lists." Auckland: Hodder Moa Beckett. ISBN 1-86958-879-7;Specific