1858 in New Zealand

The following lists events that happened during 1858 in New Zealand.

Incumbents

Regal and viceregal

Head of State — Queen Victoria
Governor — Colonel Thomas Gore Browne

Government and law

The 2nd Parliament continues.

Speaker of the House — Sir Charles Clifford
Premier — Edward Stafford.
Minister of Finance — William Richmond
Chief Justice — Hon George Arney who had been appointed on 2 September 1857 arrives early in the year.

Events

Provincial Council Chambers are constructed in Wellington. These will eventually become the seat of Parliament.
19 August – the Electoral Districts Act 1858 is enacted, increasing the number of members of parliament from 37 to 41, with the supplementary elections held in late 1859.

Births

1 April: Frederic Truby King, health reformer, founder of Plunket Society.
10 June: William Millton, rugby union player
16 July : John Luke, Mayor of Wellington and politician.
17 October: John Jenkinson, politician.
1 November : John Rigg, politician.

Deaths

8 January: Daniel Wakefield, coloniser and judge.