1953 in New Zealand

Population

• Estimated population as of 31 December: 2,074,700.
• Increase since 31 December 1952: 50,100.
• Males per 100 females: 101.1.

Incumbents

Regal and viceregal

• Head of State – 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

Government

• Speaker of the House – Matthew Oram from 1950 to 1957
• Prime Minister – Sidney Holland from 13 December 1949 to 20 September 1957.
• Deputy Prime Minister – Keith Holyoake from 13 December 1949 to 20 September 1957.
• Minister of Finance – Sidney Holland
• Minister of Foreign Affairs – Clifton Webb from 19 September 1951 to 26 November 1954
• Chief Justice — Sir Humphrey O'Leary, Sir '''Harold Barrowclough'''

Parliamentary opposition

• Leader of the Opposition – Walter Nash.

Main centre leaders

• Mayor of Auckland – John Luxford from 1953–1956
• Mayor of Hamilton – Harold David Caro then Roderick Braithwaite
• 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

• 6 January: Godfrey Bowen sets a world sheep shearing record, shearing 456 sheep in nine hours.
• 10 January: The Social Credit Political League is formed from the earlier Social Credit Association.
• 29 May – Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reach the summit of Mount Everest, the first known time this has been done. Hillary is knighted the following day.
• 2 June – Elizabeth II crowned as Queen of New Zealand at Westminster Abbey in London
• 23 December – The newly crowned Elizabeth II arrives in New Zealand for a royal tour scheduled to last until 30 January 1954. It is estimated that three in four New Zealanders would make an effort to see her during the tour.
• 24 December – Tangiwai disaster: A railway bridge collapses at Tangiwai in the central North Island, sending a fully loaded passenger train into the Whangaehu River, killing 151 passengers on board. The disaster remains New Zealand's worst rail accident.
• Police horses are retired from New Zealand.

Arts and literature

Radio

Film

Sport

Athletics

• Arthur Lydiard wins his first national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:41:29.8 in Dunedin.

Chess

• The 60th National Chess Championship was held in Timaru, and was won by Ortvin Sarapu of Auckland.

Horse racing

Harness racing

• New Zealand Trotting Cup – Adorian
• Auckland Trotting Cup – Thelma Globe

Lawn bowls

• Men's singles champion – R. McMaster
• Men's pair champions – J.F. Benson, Ted Pilkington
• Men's fours champions – W.G. Thornally, C.B. Shine, N.A. Fletcher, N. Orange

Shooting

• Ballinger Belt – Maurie Gordon

Soccer

• The Chatham Cup is won by Eastern Suburbs who beat Northern 4–3 in the final.Provincial league champions:
• * Auckland: Eastern Suburbs AFC
• * Bay of Plenty: Mangakino Utd
• * Canterbury: Western
• * Hawke's Bay: Hastings Wanderers
• * Manawatu: Palmerston North United
• * Nelson: Woodbourne
• * Northland: Otangarei United
• * Otago: Northern AFC
• * Poverty Bay: Eastern Union
• * South Canterbury: Northern Hearts
• * Southland: Brigadiers, Thistle
• * Taranaki: City
• * Waikato: Huntly Thistle
• * Wairarapa: Carterton
• * Wanganui: New Settlers
• * Wellington: Wellington Marist

Births

• 3 February: Steve Maharey, politician.
• 5 February: Deborah Coddington, journalist and politician.
• 17 February: Steve Millen, motor racing driver.
• 23 March: Denis Aberhart, cricket player and coach.
• 25 March: Paul Ballinger, long-distance runner
• 25 May: John Z. Robinson, artist, printmaker and jewelmaker.
• 14 June: Janet Mackey, politician.
• 22 June: Phil Goff, politician.
• 5 September: Murray Mexted, rugby player and commentator.
• 7 September: Marc Hunter, musician.
• 9 September: Edmond ("Sonny") Schmidt, bodybuilder.
• 12 September: Ramesh Patel, field hockey player.
• 2 October: Colin Wallace, cricketer
• 6 November: Brian McKechnie, rugby player and cricketer.
• 19 December: Paul McEwan, cricketer.Jonathan Dennis, film historian.Bill Ralston, journalist

Deaths

• 20 January: Benjamin Robbins MLC; Mayor of Hawera, Tauranga
• 29 July: Richard Pearse airplane pioneer.
• 16 October: Humphrey O'Leary, 7th Chief Justice of New Zealand.