1955 in New Zealand
Encyclopedia
Population
- Estimated Population as of 31 December: 2,164,800
- Increase since 31 December 1954: 46,400 (2.19%)
- Males per 100 Females: 101.2
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...
– Elizabeth II, Queen of New ZealandMonarchy in New ZealandThe monarchy of New Zealand also referred to as The Crown in Right of New Zealand, Her Majesty in Right of New Zealand, or The Queen in Right of New Zealand is the constitutional system of government in which a hereditary monarch is the sovereign and head of state of the Realm of New Zealand,...
, from 6 February 1952 - Governor-GeneralGovernor-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....
– Lieutenant-General The Lord NorrieCharles Norrie, 1st Baron NorrieLieutenant-General Charles Willoughby Moke Norrie, 1st Baron Norrie GCMG, GCVO, CB, DSO, MC & Bar was a British Army general during World War II, following which he served terms as Governor of South Australia and the eighth Governor-General of New Zealand.-Army career:After education at Eton and...
GCMGOrder of St Michael and St GeorgeThe Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
GCVORoyal Victorian OrderThe Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
CBOrder of the BathThe Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
DSODistinguished Service OrderThe Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
MCMilitary CrossThe Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
, from 1952-1957
Government
The 31st New Zealand Parliament continued. In power was the NationalNew Zealand National Party
The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
government under Sidney Holland
Sidney Holland
Sir Sidney George Holland, GCMG, CH was the 25th Prime Minister of New Zealand from 13 December 1949 to 20 September 1957.-Early 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...
– Mathew Oram from 1950 to 1957 - Prime MinisterPrime 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...
– Sidney HollandSidney HollandSir Sidney George Holland, GCMG, CH was the 25th Prime Minister of New Zealand from 13 December 1949 to 20 September 1957.-Early life:...
from 13 December 1949 to 20 September 1957. - Deputy Prime MinisterDeputy Prime Minister of New ZealandThe Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand is second most senior officer in the Government of New Zealand, although this seniority does not necessarily translate into power....
– Keith HolyoakeKeith HolyoakeSir Keith Jacka Holyoake, KG, GCMG, CH, QSO, KStJ was a New Zealand politician. The only person to have been both Prime Minister and Governor-General of New Zealand, Holyoake was National Party Prime Minister from 20 September 1957 to 12 December 1957, then again from 12 December 1960 to 7...
from 13 December 1949 to 20 September 1957. - 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....
– Jack Watts from November 1954 until 20 September 1957 - Minister of Foreign AffairsMinister of Foreign Affairs (New Zealand)The Minister of Foreign Affairs is a major ministerial portfolio in the government of New Zealand.The current Minister of Foreign Affairs is Murray McCully, who was National Party Spokeperson of Foreign Affairs and Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs. There are also Associate Minister roles...
– Thomas Lachlan MacDonald from 26 November 1954 until 12 December 1957
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...
– Walter NashWalter NashSir Walter Nash, GCMG, CH served as the 27th Prime Minister of New Zealand in the Second Labour Government from 1957 to 1960, and was also highly influential in his role as Minister of Finance...
(LabourNew Zealand Labour PartyThe New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
).
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 LuxfordJohn LuxfordJohn Hector Luxford was a New Zealand lawyer and Mayor of Auckland City from 1953 to 1956.Born in Palmerston North, he qualified as a solicitor in 1913 and a barrister in 1919. He practised in Te Awamutu, Hamilton and Auckland. He was Chief Judge in Samoa 1929-35 and a magistrate in Auckland 1941-51...
from 1953–1956 - Mayor of HamiltonMayor of Hamilton, New ZealandThe Mayor of Hamilton, New Zealand is the head of the municipal government of Hamilton, New Zealand, and presides over the Hamilton City Council.In the 2010 Local Government elections, Julie Hardaker was elected as mayor, defeating incumbent Bob Simcock....
– Roderick Alastair MacDonald Braithwaite from 1953–1959 - 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...
– Robert MacalisterRobert MacalisterRobert Lachlan Macalister was the Mayor of Wellington from 1950 to 1956, and had been the Acting Mayor for five months in 1948 during the absence overseas of William Appleton....
from 1950–1956 - 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...
– Robert M. Macfarlane from 1938–1941 and again from 1950–1958 - 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....
– Leonard Morton Wright from 1950–1959
Film
See: :Category:1955 film awards , 1955 in film1955 in film
The year 1955 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* November 3 - The musical Guys and Dolls, starring Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra, debuts.* June 27 - The last ever Republic serial, King of the Carnival, is released....
, List of New Zealand feature films , Cinema of New Zealand
Cinema of New Zealand
New Zealand cinema, can refer to films made by New Zealand-based production companies in New Zealand. However, it may also refer to films made about New Zealand by filmmakers from other countries...
, :Category:1955 films
Appointments and awards
See: New Zealand Order of MeritNew Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
, Order of New Zealand
Order of New Zealand
The Order of New Zealand is the highest honour in New Zealand's honours system, created "to recognise outstanding service to the Crown and people of New Zealand in a civil or military capacity"...
- Archbishop 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...
- Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and PolynesiaAnglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and PolynesiaThe Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia is a church of the Anglican Communion serving New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, and the Cook Islands...
, see appointments to Diocese
Athletics
- Arthur LydiardArthur LydiardArthur Leslie Lydiard, ONZ, OBE, was a New Zealand runner and athletics coach. He has been lauded as one of the outstanding athletics coaches of all time and is credited with popularizing the sport of running and making it commonplace across the sporting world...
wins his second national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:42:34 in AucklandAucklandThe 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...
.
Chess
- The 62nd National Chess Championship was held in Auckland, and was won by Ortvin SarapuOrtvin SarapuOrtvin Sarapu MBE , sometimes known as "Mr Chess", was a New Zealand chess International Master who won or co-won the New Zealand Chess Championship 20 times between 1952 and 1990.-Early life:Born Ortvin Sarapuu in Estonia, he won the Estonian Junior Championship in 1940, then defected to Finland...
of Auckland (his 4th successive title).
Harness racing
- New Zealand Trotting CupNew Zealand Trotting CupThe New Zealand Trotting Cup or New Zealand Cup is a Group One harness race held annually by the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club at Addington Raceway in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is considered the country's most prestigious harness racing event. the prize was NZ$750,000, the largest prize for a...
: Our Roger - Auckland Trotting CupAuckland Trotting CupThe Auckland Trotting Cup or Auckland Cup is a race held at Alexandra Park in March in Auckland, New Zealand for Standardbred horses. It is one of two major harness races, along with the New Zealand Cup, held in New Zealand each year. It is notable as it is a Group 1 championship race over...
: Prince Polka
Soccer
- The Chatham Cup1955 Chatham CupThe 1955 Chatham Cup was the 28th annual nationwide knockout football competition in New Zealand.The competition was run on a regional basis, with regional associations each holding separate qualifying rounds....
is won by WesternWestern A.F.C.Western A.F.C. is a semi-professional association football club in Christchurch, New Zealand. They compete in the Robbie's Premier Football League.-1913–1920:...
of Christchurch who beat Eastern SuburbsEastern Suburbs AFCEastern Suburbs is a semi-professional association football club in Kohimarama, New Zealand. They compete in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 1.-Club history:...
of Auckland 6—2 in the final. - New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
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 3-5
- Provincial league champions:
- Auckland: Mount Albert GSOB
- Bay of Plenty: Mangakino Utd
- Buller: Millerton Thistle
- Canterbury: WesternWestern A.F.C.Western A.F.C. is a semi-professional association football club in Christchurch, New Zealand. They compete in the Robbie's Premier Football League.-1913–1920:...
- Hawke's Bay: Napier RoversNapier City RoversNapier City Rovers are an association football team based in Napier, New Zealand. They are currently competing in the Central Premier League.-Club history:The team was founded in 1973 via a merger of Napier Rovers and Napier City....
- Manawatu: Kiwi United
- Nelson: Motueka
- Northland: Otangarei United
- Otago: King Edward Technical College OBDunedin TechnicalDunedin Technical - known locally as "Tech" - is a semi-professional association football club in Dunedin, New Zealand. They compete in the ODT FootballSouth Premier League.-Club history:...
- Poverty Bay: Eastern UnionGisborne CityGisborne City FC is a soccer club in Gisborne, New Zealand who play in the eastern league 1st division. Their home ground is Childers Road. They have won the National League, Air New Zealand cup, and the Chatham Cup....
- South Canterbury: West End
- Southland: Invercargill Thistle
- Taranaki: Old Boys
- Waikato: Huntly Thistle
- Wanganui: Wanganui Athletic
- Wellington: Stop OutStop OutStop Out is an association football club in Lower Hutt, New Zealand. They are based at Hutt Park, Gracefield in Lower Hutt.The Stop Out organisation was founded in 1919 with the aim of providing recreation to Te Aro Flat children associated with the wellington city missionso as to prevent them...
Births
- 16 January: Steve WooddinSteve WooddinSteven "Steve" Wooddin is a former New Zealand association football player who was a leading Striker during the country's successful campaign to qualify for the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain...
, soccer player - 14 February: Margaret KnightonMargaret KnightonMargaret "Marges" Knighton, in Sheffield is a New Zealand horsewoman who won a Bronze Medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul...
, equestrian eventer - 31 March: Robert VanceRobert VanceRobert Howard Vance in Wellington was a New Zealand cricketer. He played in four Tests and eight One Day Internationals for New Zealand.Vance was born into a cricketing family; his father, R.A...
, cricketer - 2 April: Steve SumnerSteve SumnerSteven Paul Sumner is an English-born, New Zealand football player, who was captain of the national team during the country's first successful campaign to qualify for the World Cup, in 1982.-Club career:...
, soccer player - 21 April: Tuheitia PakiTuheitia PakiTuheitia Paki, KStJ is the current Māori King in New Zealand. He is the eldest son of the previous Māori monarch, Dame Te Atairangikaahu, and was announced as her successor and crowned on the same day as her tangihanga took place, on 21 August 2006...
, Māori King - 27 May: Graham 'Jock' EdwardsGraham Edwards (cricketer)Graham Neil Edwards , nicknamed Jock, is a cricketer. He played eight Test matches and six One Day Internationals for New Zealand. He was born in Nelson....
, cricketer - 1 June: Lorraine MollerLorraine MollerLorraine Mary Moller is a former athlete from New Zealand who competed in track athletics and later specialised in the marathon. Moller's international career lasted over 20 years and included three Commonwealth and four Olympic Games...
, long-distance athlete - 19 June: Mary O'ConnorMary O'ConnorMary Theresa O'Connor is a retired female long-distance runner from New Zealand. She competed for her native country at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. There she ended up in 27th place in the women's marathon. O'Connor set her personal best in the classic distance in...
, long-distance runner - 29 September: Mark GrahamMark Graham (rugby league)Mark Kerry Graham is a New Zealand retired rugby league footballer and coach. A back-rower and former captain of the New Zealand national rugby league team, he has been named as the greatest player the country has produced in the century from 1907 to 2006.-Playing career:An Otahahu junior, Graham...
, rugby league footballer and coach - 1 November: Anne AudainAnne AudainAnne Audain is a New Zealand middle and long distance athlete, competing in three Olympic Games. She has received the Member of the British Empire medal from Queen Elizabeth II of New Zealand for her services to athletics worldwide and was born as Anne Garrett.At the age of 17 she came ninth in...
, middle and long-distance athlete - 12 November: Roger SumichRoger SumichRoger John Leonard Sumich is a retired cyclist from New Zealand, who represented his native country at the 1984 Summer Olympics. There he did not finish in the men's individual road race. Sumich won the bronze medal in the same event at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Australia.He's of...
, cyclist - 26 November: Barbara TildenBarbara TildenBarbara Diane Tilden is a retired field hockey player from New Zealand, who was a member of the national team that finished sixth at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California.-References:*...
, field hockey player - 2 December: Mark GoscheMark GoscheMark James Gosche is a New Zealand politician. He is a member of the Labour Party. He was born in Auckland to Samoan parents, and has been active in New Zealand's Pacific Islander community.-Member of Parliament:...
, politician - 7 December: Te Ururoa FlavellTe Ururoa FlavellTe Ururoa James William Ben Flavell is a New Zealand politician and serves as a member of the New Zealand Parliament.-Ancestry:...
, politician
- David HamiltonDavid Hamilton (composer)David Hamilton was born in 1955 in Napier, New Zealand and is a contemporary composer.Hamilton was head of music at Epsom Girls' Grammar School in Auckland until 2001 but now spends much of his time on composing. He has composed well over 100 works for choirs with orchestra or organ...
, composer
Deaths
- 31 January: Bob SempleBob SempleRobert "Bob" Semple was a union leader and later Minister of Public Works for the first Labour Government of New Zealand....
, trade union leader and politician. - 7 September: Henry BraddonHenry BraddonSir Henry Yule Braddon KBE was a Rugby union player who played for Otago, New South Wales and the All Blacks. The position he generally played in was fullback...
, rugby union player.
- William StewartWilliam Stewart (New Zealand)William Stewart was a New Zealand politician of the Reform Party.He represented the Bay of Islands electorate from 1915 to 1917, when he resigned....
, politician.