1903 in New Zealand

The following lists events that happened during 1903 in New Zealand.

Incumbents

Regal and viceregal

Head of State – Edward VII
Governor – The Earl of Ranfurly GCMG

Government

The 15th New Zealand Parliament continued. In government was the Liberal Party.

Parliamentary opposition

Leader of the Opposition – Vacant until 11 September, then William Massey,.

Main centre leaders

Mayor of Auckland – Alfred Kidd then Edwin Mitchelson
Mayor of Wellington – John Aitken
Mayor of Christchurch – Henry Wigram
Mayor of Dunedin – James Park then Thomas Scott

Events

September

26 September – New Zealand is the first country in the world to pass a Wireless Telegraphy Act.

Arts and literature

See 1903 in art, 1903 in literature

Music

See: 1903 in music

Film

A Message from Mars

Sport

Boxing

The Bantamweight division is included in the national championships for the first time.
National amateur champions

Heavyweight – H. Taylor
Middleweight – J. Griffin
Lightweight – A. Farquharson
Featherweight – A. Parker
Bantamweight – J. Pearce

Chess

National Champion: J.C. Grierson of Auckland.

Golf

The 11th National Amateur Championships were held in Napier

Men: Kurepo Tareha
Women: A. E Pearce

Horse racing

Harness racing

Auckland Trotting Cup: Plain G

Rugby union

1903 New Zealand rugby union tour of Australia

Soccer

Provincial league champions:

Auckland: YMCA Auckland
Otago: Northern
Wellington: Wellington St. John's

Births

30 January: Colin Scrimgeour, minister and broadcaster.
6 February: Jack Dunning, cricketer
21 February: P. H. Matthews, politician
11 March: George Dickinson, cricketer
11 March: Ronald Syme, historian
21 March: Frank Sargeson, writer
28 March: Merton Hodge, west-end playwright
23 April: John Stewart, politician.
10 June: Count Geoffrey Potocki de Montalk, poet.
6 July: Edward Musgrave Blaiklock, academic.
4 August: Charles Bateson, historian and writer
2 November: Anna Lois White, painter
15 November: Stewie Dempster, cricketer

Deaths

7 March: John Studholme, politician and farmer.
23 April: William Travers, politician.
11 June: Thomas Mason, horticulturist and politician.
7 July: Agnes Harrold, hotel manager, foster parent, nurse and midwife
30 August: Joe Warbrick, rugby player.