1891 in New Zealand
Encyclopedia
Regal and Vice Regal
- Head of StateHead of StateA head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
— Queen Victoria - GovernorGovernor-General of New ZealandThe Governor-General of New Zealand is the representative of the monarch of New Zealand . The Governor-General acts as the Queen's vice-regal representative in New Zealand and is often viewed as the de facto head of state....
— The Earl of OnslowWilliam Onslow, 4th Earl of OnslowWilliam Hillier Onslow, 4th Earl of Onslow GCMG, PC was a British Conservative politician. He held several governmental positions between 1880 and 1905 and was also Governor of New Zealand between 1889 and 1892....
Government and law
Following their victory in the 1890New Zealand general election, 1890
The New Zealand general election of 1890 was one of New Zealand's most significant. It marked the beginning of party politics in New Zealand with the formation of the First Liberal government, which was to enact major welfare, labour and electoral reforms, including giving the vote to women.It was...
election the First Liberal Government
First Liberal Government of New Zealand
The First Liberal Government of New Zealand was the first responsible government in New Zealand politics organised along party lines. The Government formed following the founding of the Liberal Party and took office on the 24 January 1891, and governed New Zealand for over 21 years until 10 July...
forms the 11th Parliament
Parliament of New Zealand
The Parliament of New Zealand consists of the Queen of New Zealand and the New Zealand House of Representatives and, until 1951, the New Zealand Legislative Council. The House of Representatives is often referred to as "Parliament".The House of Representatives usually consists of 120 Members of...
, taking office on 24 January. This is the first time a single political party forms a government in New Zealand.
The new Liberal Government restricts future terms of appointment to the Legislative Council
New Zealand Legislative Council
The Legislative Council of New Zealand was the upper house of the New Zealand Parliament from 1853 until 1951. Unlike the lower house, the New Zealand House of Representatives, the Legislative Council was appointed.-Role:...
to 7 years. Previous appointments have been for life.
- Speaker of the HouseSpeaker of the New Zealand House of RepresentativesIn New Zealand the Speaker of the House of Representatives is the individual who chairs the country's legislative body, the New Zealand House of Representatives...
— William StewardWilliam Steward (New Zealand politician)Sir William Jukes Steward was a New Zealand politician and the first Liberal Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives. He represented South Canterbury electorates in Parliament for a total of 34 years, before being appointed to the Legislative Council...
becomes Speaker taking over from Maurice O'RorkeMaurice O'RorkeSir George Maurice O’Rorke was a New Zealand politician, representing the Auckland seat of Onehunga, and later Manukau, and was Speaker of the House of Representatives. He was a committed provincialist and was the eighth Superintendent of the Auckland Province...
. - PremierPrime Minister of New ZealandThe Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
— John BalanceJohn BalanceJohn Balance , born in Mansfield, England, was the founder of the experimental music group Coil, along with his partner Peter Christopherson...
takes office on 24 January, replacing Harry AtkinsonHarry AtkinsonHenry Albert "Harry" Atkinson served as the tenth Premier of New Zealand on four separate occasions in the late 19th century, and was Colonial Treasurer for a total of ten years...
. - Minister of FinanceMinister of Finance (New Zealand)The Minister of Finance is a senior figure within the government of New Zealand. The position is often considered to be the most important Cabinet role after that of the Prime Minister....
— John BalanceJohn BalanceJohn Balance , born in Mansfield, England, was the founder of the experimental music group Coil, along with his partner Peter Christopherson...
takes office on 24 January, replacing Harry AtkinsonHarry AtkinsonHenry Albert "Harry" Atkinson served as the tenth Premier of New Zealand on four separate occasions in the late 19th century, and was Colonial Treasurer for a total of ten years...
. - Chief JusticeChief Justice of New ZealandThe Chief Justice of New Zealand is the head of the New Zealand judiciary, and presides over the Supreme Court of New Zealand. Before the establishment of the latter court in 2004 the Chief Justice was the presiding judge in the High Court of New Zealand and was also ex officio a member of the...
— HonThe HonourableThe prefix The Honourable or The Honorable is a style used before the names of certain classes of persons. It is considered an honorific styling.-International diplomacy:...
SirSirSir is an honorific used as a title , or as a courtesy title to address a man without using his given or family name in many English speaking cultures...
James PrendergastJames Prendergast (judge)Sir James Prendergast GCMG was the third Chief Justice of New Zealand. Prendergast was the first Chief Justice to be appointed on the advice of a responsible New Zealand government, but is chiefly noted for his far-reaching decision in Wi Parata v The Bishop of Wellington in which he described the...
Parliamentary opposition
Leader of the OppositionLeader of the Opposition (New Zealand)
The Leader of the Opposition in New Zealand is the politician who, at least in theory, commands the support of the non-government bloc of members in the New Zealand Parliament. In the debating chamber the Leader of the Opposition sits directly opposite the Prime Minister...
— John Ballance
John Ballance
John Ballance served as the 14th Premier of New Zealand at the end of the 19th century, and was the founder of the Liberal Party .-Early life:...
(Liberal Party) until 23 June, then John Bryce
John Bryce
John Bryce was a New Zealand politician from 1871 to 1891 and Minister of Native Affairs from 1879 to 1884...
(Independent) until 31 August, then William Rolleston
William Rolleston
William Rolleston was a New Zealand politician, public administrator, educationalist and Canterbury provincial superintendent.-Early life:...
(Independent).
Main centre leaders
- Mayor of AucklandMayor of AucklandThe Mayor of Auckland is the directly elected head of the Auckland Council, the local government authority for the Auckland region in New Zealand...
— John Upton followed by William CrowtherWilliam Crowther (New Zealand)William Crowther was a Liberal Party then independent conservative Member of Parliament in Auckland, New Zealand.He represented the City of Auckland multi-member electorate from 1893 to 1900, when he died. The resulting by-election on 27 April 1900 was won by Joseph Witheford.-References:... - Mayor of ChristchurchMayor of ChristchurchThe Mayor of Christchurch is the head of the municipal government of Christchurch, New Zealand, and presides over the Christchurch City Council. The mayor is directly elected using a First Past the Post electoral system...
— Samuel Manning followed by Charles Matthew GrayCharles Matthew GrayCharles Mathew Gray was a New Zealand Independent Member of Parliament for Christchurch North, and Mayor of Christchurch.-Early life:Charles Gray was born in Geelong, Victoria, in Australia and came to New Zealand in 1862.... - Mayor of DunedinMayor of DunedinThe Mayor of Dunedin is the head of the municipal government of Dunedin, New Zealand, and presides over the Dunedin City Council. The Mayor is directly elected, using the Single Transferable Vote system in 2007....
— John Carroll followed by Charles Robert Chapman - Mayor of WellingtonMayor of WellingtonThe Mayor of Wellington is the head of the municipal government of Wellington, New Zealand, and presides over the Wellington City Council. The Mayor of Wellington administers only Wellington City itself — other municipalities in adjacent areas of the Wellington Region such as Lower Hutt, Upper...
— Arthur Winton BrownArthur Winton BrownArthur Winton Brown was the Mayor of Wellington, New Zealand in 1886 and 1890.He was a Wellington City Councillor from 1881 to 1885 and 1888 to 1890.He was born in Port Chalmers...
Events
- 13 January — The first public phonographPhonographThe phonograph record player, or gramophone is a device introduced in 1877 that has had continued common use for reproducing sound recordings, although when first developed, the phonograph was used to both record and reproduce sounds...
performance in New Zealand is made at ChristchurchChristchurchChristchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
. - 17 March — The S.S. Alice is the first mechanically powered vessel to pass through Ohau Channel and the first to operate on Lake RotoitiLake RotoitiLake Rotoiti is the name of two lakes in New Zealand:*Lake Rotoiti, Bay of Plenty, in the North Island*Lake Rotoiti, Tasman, in the South Island...
. Among the passengers are GovernorGovernor-General of New ZealandThe Governor-General of New Zealand is the representative of the monarch of New Zealand . The Governor-General acts as the Queen's vice-regal representative in New Zealand and is often viewed as the de facto head of state....
OnslowWilliam Onslow, 4th Earl of OnslowWilliam Hillier Onslow, 4th Earl of Onslow GCMG, PC was a British Conservative politician. He held several governmental positions between 1880 and 1905 and was also Governor of New Zealand between 1889 and 1892....
and Lady Onslow. (see also 1889)
Appointments and awards
Late in the year Bishop Suter resigns as Bishop of NelsonDiocese of Nelson
The Diocese of Nelson is one of the thirteen dioceses and hui amorangi of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia. The Diocese covers the top part of the South Island of New Zealand, which is mostly the area north of a line drawn from Greymouth to Kaikoura.The diocese was...
.
- Primate of New ZealandArchbishop of New ZealandThe Archbishop of New Zealand is the primate, or head, of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia. However, since Whakahuihui Vercoe stepped down at the end of his two-year term as archbishop in 2006, the church has decided that three bishops shall share the position and style of...
— Octavius HadfieldOctavius HadfieldOctavius Hadfield was Archdeacon of Kapiti, Bishop of Wellington from 1870 to 1893 and Primate of New Zealand from 1890 to 1893. A missionary for thirty years, he was recognised as an authority on Maori customs and language...
(Bishop of WellingtonDiocese of WellingtonThe Diocese of Wellington is one of the thirteen dioceses and hui amorangi of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia. The Diocese covers the area between the bottom of the North Island of New Zealand up to the area of Mount Ruapehu....
) - Bishop of Auckland — William Garden CowieWilliam Garden CowieWilliam Garden Cowie was bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Auckland, New Zealand, from 1870 to 1902. Although he succeeded George Augustus Selwyn in having jurisdiction in this portion of New Zealand, he was the first bishop to be known specifically as Bishop of Auckland...
- Bishop of Christchurch — Churchill JuliusChurchill JuliusChurchill Julius was an Anglican cleric in England, then in Australia and New Zealand, becoming the first Archbishop of New Zealand.-Biography:...
- Bishop of Dunedin — Samuel Tarratt NevillSamuel Tarratt NevillThe Most Reverend Samuel Tarratt Nevill, DD was the first Anglican Bishop of the Diocese of Dunedin in Dunedin, New Zealand....
- Bishop of NelsonDiocese of NelsonThe Diocese of Nelson is one of the thirteen dioceses and hui amorangi of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia. The Diocese covers the top part of the South Island of New Zealand, which is mostly the area north of a line drawn from Greymouth to Kaikoura.The diocese was...
— Andrew Burn SuterAndrew Burn SuterThe Rt Rev Andrew Burn Suter, DD was the second Anglican Bishop of Nelson whose Episcopate spanned a 26 year period during the second half of the 19th century....
followed by Charles Oliver MulesCharles Oliver MulesThe Rt Rev Charles Oliver Mules, DD was the third Anglican Bishop of Nelson, whose Episcopate spanned a 20 year period during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.... - Bishop of WaiapuDiocese of WaiapuThe Diocese of Waiapu is one of the thirteen dioceses and hui amorangi of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia. The Diocese covers the area around the East Coast of the North Island of New Zealand, including Tauranga, Taupo, Gisborne, Hastings and Napier. It is named for the...
— Edward Craig StuartEdward Craig StuartThe Rt Rev Edward Craig Stuart, DD was the 2nd Anglican Bishop of Waiapu whose Episcopate spanned a 16 year period during the second half of the 19th century. He was born in Edinburgh, educated at Trinity College, Dublin and ordained in 1850...
Athletics
- 12 August Godfrey Shaw sets the first (unofficial) world record by a New Zealander. He runs 57.2 seconds for 440 yards hurdles at the Isle of ManIsle of ManThe Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
.
National Champions, Men
The 440 yards hurdles is held for the first time.
- 100 yards — J. King (Wellington) Race won by W. Macpherson (AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
) - 250 yards — J. King (Wellington) Race won by W. Macpherson (AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
) - 440 yards — J. Hutchison (Auckland) Race won by W. Macpherson (AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
) - 880 yards — Derisley Wood (Canterbury)
- 1 mile — Derisley Wood (Canterbury)
- 3 miles — Derisley Wood (Canterbury)
- 120 yards hurdles — Harold Batger (Wellington)
- 440 yards hurdles — Harold Batger (Wellington)
- Long jump — T. Upfill (Auckland)
- High jump — tie J. Hume (Wellington) and E. Laurie (Auckland)
- Pole vault — T. Upfill (Auckland)
- Shot put — Timothy O’Connor (Auckland)
Boxing
- 14 January: Bob FitzsimmonsBob FitzsimmonsRobert James "Bob" Fitzsimmons , was a British boxer who made boxing history as the sport's first three-division world champion. He also achieved fame for beating Gentleman Jim Corbett, the man who beat John L. Sullivan, and is in The Guinness Book of World Records as the Lightest heavyweight...
wins the world middleweight boxing title by beating Jack (Nonpareil) DempseyJack (Nonpareil) DempseyJohn Edward Kelly was an Irish-born champion boxer. At height, he was better known as Jack "Nonpareil" Dempsey, called "Nonpareil" because no one could defeat him. In 65 contests, he lost only 3 times. This ended when Bob Fitzsimmons pummelled him around the ring and begged him to concede before...
.
Thoroughbred racing
- New Zealand CupNew Zealand CupThe New Zealand Cup is a thoroughbred horse race held at Riccarton Park racecourse in Christchurch, held on the final Saturday of New Zealand Cup week in November. The week also features the New Zealand 1000 and 2000 Guineas, with the New Zealand Trotting Cup on the Tuesday at Addington being the...
— British Lion - New Zealand DerbyNew Zealand DerbyThe New Zealand Derby is a set-weights Thoroughbred horserace for three-year-old, run over a distance of 2,400 metres at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand. It is held on the first Saturday in March, as the opening day of Auckland Cup Week. From 2009, it was run for a purse of $2.2...
— Florrie - Auckland CupAuckland CupThe Stella Artois Auckland Cup is an annual race held by the Auckland Racing Club . It is an Open Handicap for thoroughbred racehorses competed on the flat turf over 3200 metres at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand. The race is graded as a Group One and was first contested in 1874...
— Pinfire - Wellington CupWellington CupThe Wellington Cup is a Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race in New Zealand held annually in late January at Trentham Racecourse in Trentham by the Wellington Racing Club....
— CyniscaCynisca (horse)Cynisca was a Thoroughbred mare racehorse named for the Spartan princess Cynisca who became the first woman in history to win at the ancient Olympic Games when she won the four-horse chariot race in 396 BC....
Lawn Bowls
Dissatisfied with their remoteness from the national association the North IslandNorth Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
clubs and those from Nelson
Nelson, New Zealand
Nelson is a city on the eastern shores of Tasman Bay, and is the economic and cultural centre of the Nelson-Tasman region. Established in 1841, it is the second oldest settled city in New Zealand and the oldest in the South Island....
form a separate Northern Bowling Association.
National Champions
- Singles — G. White (Milton)
- Fours — D. Campbell, W. Weir, D. Mackie and W. Carswell (skip) (Taieri)
Polo
The New Zealand Polo Association is formed from clubs in AucklandAuckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
, Rangitikei
Rangitikei District
The Rangitikei District is a Territorial Authority located primarily in the Manawatu-Wanganui Region in the North Island of New Zealand, although a small part, the town of Ngamatea , of it lies in the Hawke's Bay Region...
, North Canterbury and Waikari
Waikari
Waikari is a small town in the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island. It is located on State Highway 7 near the Weka Pass and was served by the Waiau Branch railway from 6 April 1882 until its closure on 15 January 1978...
.
- Savile Cup winners — Christchurch
Rowing
National Champions (Men)- Single sculls — W. Bridson (Wellington)
- Double sculls — Star
- Coxless pairs — Wellington
- Coxed fours — Wellington
Rugby union
Provincial club rugby champions include:- see also :Category:Rugby union in New Zealand
Soccer
Provincial Champions: — This is the first year any provincial championship is recorded. Auckland commenced in 1892.- Wellington: Petone Wanderers
Swimming
National champions (Men)- 100 yards frestyle — H. Bailey (Auckland)
- 440 yards frestyle — H. Bailey (Auckland)
- 880 yards frestyle — H. Nicholson (Auckland)
Tennis
National championships- Men's singles — J. Marshall
- Women's singles — J. Rees
- Men's doubles — R. Harman and F. Wilding
- Women's doubles — K. Hitchings and E. Gordon
Births
- 18 December: Tiaki OmanaTiaki OmanaTiaki Omana , whose Christian name is John Ormond best known as Jack is a former New Zealand politician who captured the Rātana Movement's fourth Maori seat of Eastern Maori in 1943 from Apirana Ngata who had held it since 1905...
, politician, rugby union player. - 25 December: Clarrie GrimmettClarrie GrimmettClarence Victor "Clarrie" Grimmett was a cricketer; although born in New Zealand, he played most of his cricket in Australia. He is thought by many to be one of the finest early spin bowlers, and usually credited as the developer of the flipper.Grimmett was born in Caversham a suburb of Dunedin,...
, Australian cricketer.
See also
- List of years in New Zealand
- Timeline of New Zealand historyTimeline of New Zealand historyThis is a timeline of the history of New Zealand and only includes events deemed to be of principal importance - for more detailed information click the year heading or refer to List of years in New Zealand.- Prehistory :...
- History of New ZealandHistory of New ZealandThe history of New Zealand dates back at least 700 years to when it was discovered and settled by Polynesians, who developed a distinct Māori culture centred on kinship links and land. The first European explorer to discover New Zealand was Abel Janszoon Tasman on 13 December 1642...
- Military history of New ZealandMilitary history of New ZealandThe military history of New Zealand is an aspect of the history of New Zealand that spans several hundred years. When first settled by Māori almost a millennium ago, there was much land and resources, but war began to break out as the country's carrying capacity was approached...
- Timeline of environmental history of New ZealandTimeline of environmental history of New ZealandThis is a timeline of environmental history of New Zealand. These events relate to the more notable events affecting the natural environment of New Zealand as a result of human activity.-Pre 1800s:...
- Timeline of New Zealand's links with AntarcticaTimeline of New Zealand's links with AntarcticaThis is a timeline of the history of New Zealand's involvement with Antarctica.-Eighteenth and nineteenth centuries:1773*17 January Captain James Cook and the crews of his expedition's ships, Resolution and Adventure, become the first explorers to cross the Antarctic Circle1770s – 1830s*Sealers and...
For world events and topics in 1891 not specifically related to New Zealand see: 1891