From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1955 in New Zealand:

Other years in New Zealand

1952 • 1953 • 1954 • 1955 (1955) • 1956 • 1957 • 1958

Population

• Estimated Population as of 31 December: 2,164,800 ^[1]
• 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^[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 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 Lachlan MacDonald from November 26, 1954 until December 12, 1957

Parliamentary opposition

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

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, 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

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

Sport

Athletics

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

Horse racing

Harness racing

• New Zealand Trotting Cup: Our Roger ^[4]
• Auckland Trotting Cup: Prince Polka ^[5]

Thoroughbred racing

Soccer

• The Chatham Cup is won by Western of Christchurch who beat Eastern Suburbs of Auckland 6—2 in the final. ^[6]
• New Zealand played 3 matches against South China Athletic ^[7]
  • 18 June, Christchurch - 1-1 draw
  • 2 July, Wellington - NZ win 7-4
  • 9 July, Auckland - NZ lose 3-5
• Provincial league champions: ^[8]
  • 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 ^[9]
• 14 February: Margaret Knighton, equestrian eventer ^[10]
• 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
• June 19: Mary O'Connor, long-distance runner
• September 29: Mark Graham, rugby league footballer and coach
• 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. ^[11]

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 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