1955 in New Zealand

Population

• Estimated population as of 31 December: 2,164,800.
• Increase since 31 December 1954: 46,400.
• Males per 100 females: 101.2.

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 to 1957

Government

• Speaker of the House – Mathew 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 – Jack Watts from November 1954 until 20 September 1957
• Minister of Foreign Affairs – Tom Macdonald from 26 November 1954 until 12 December 1957
• Chief Justice — Sir '''Harold Barrowclough'''

Parliamentary opposition

• Leader of the Opposition – Walter Nash.

Main centre leaders

• Mayor of Auckland – John Luxford from 1953 to 1956
• Mayor of Hamilton – Roderick Braithwaite from 1953 to 1959
• Mayor of Wellington – Robert Macalister from 1950 to 1956
• Mayor of Christchurch – Robert M. Macfarlane from 1938 to 1941 and again from 1950 to 1958
• Mayor of Dunedin – Leonard Morton Wright from 1950 to 1959

Events

• A pulp and paper mill opens at Kawerau
• The Marriage Act 1955 is passed
• 3 November – the Rimutaka rail tunnel opens

Arts and literature

Music

Radio

Film

Sport

Chess

• The 62nd National Chess Championship was held in Auckland, and was won by Ortvin Sarapu of Auckland.

Horse racing

Harness racing

• New Zealand Trotting Cup – Our Roger
• Auckland Trotting Cup – Prince Polka

Lawn bowls

• Men's singles champion – J.H. Rabone
• Men's pair champions – W.R. Hawkins, M.G. Borich
• Men's fours champions – J. Whitehead, E.A. Horan, A. Robinson, I.B. Evans

Soccer

• The Chatham Cup is won by Western of Christchurch who beat Eastern Suburbs of Auckland 6–2 in the final.
• New Zealand played 3 matches against South China Athletic
• *18 June, Christchurch – 1–1 draw
• *2 July, Wellington – NZ win 7–4
• *9 July, Auckland – NZ lose 3–5Provincial league champions:
• * 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
• 14 February: Margaret Knighton, equestrian eventer
• 31 March: Robert Vance, cricketer
• 2 April: Steve Sumner, soccer player
• 21 April: Tūheitia Paki, Māori King
• 27 May: Graham 'Jock' Edwards, cricketer
• 1 June: Lorraine Moller, long-distance athlete
• 19 June: Mary O'Connor, long-distance runner
• 16 September: Peter Verhoek, cricketer
• 29 September: Mark Graham, rugby league footballer and coach
• 1 November: Anne Audain, middle and long-distance athlete
• 12 November: Roger Sumich, cyclist
• 26 November: Barbara Tilden, field hockey player
• 2 December: Mark Gosche, politician
• 7 December: Te Ururoa Flavell, politicianDavid Hamilton, composer

Deaths

• 31 January: Bob Semple, trade union leader and politician.
• 7 May: Melville Lyons, politician
• 24 May: Louis Hekenui Bidois, policeman
• 5 June : George Skellerup, industrialist
• 7 September: Henry Braddon, rugby union player.
• 14 December: William Stewart, politician.
• Undated: John Guthrie journalist and novelist.