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1959 in New Zealand

The following lists events that happened during 1959 in New Zealand.

Population

  • Estimated population as of 31 December: 2,359,700.
  • Increase since 31 December 1958: 43,700 (1.89%).
  • Males per 100 females: 101.0.

Incumbents

Regal and viceregal

Government

The 32nd New Zealand Parliament continued. In power was the Labour government led by Walter Nash.

Parliamentary opposition

Main centre leaders

Events

  • 30 May –The Auckland Harbour Bridge is opened.
  • 1 June – During exploratory oil drilling at Kapuni in South Taranaki, drillers appear to strike natural gas.
  • 24 November – The coastal trader MV Holmglen sinks near Timaru with the loss of 15 lives.

Arts and literature

See 1959 in art, 1959 in literature

Music

See: 1959 in music

Radio

See: Public broadcasting in New Zealand

Film

See: , 1959 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand,

Sport

Athletics

Ray Puckett wins his second national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:27:28.2 on 7 March in Palmerston North.

Chess

  • The 66th National Chess Championship was held in Hamilton. The title was shared between F.A. Foulds and B.C. Menzies, both of Auckland.

Horse racing

Harness racing

Lawn bowls

The national outdoor lawn bowls championships are held in Wellington.

  • Men's singles champion – W.R. Fleming Sr (Tuakau Bowling Club)
  • Men's pair champions – G. Bradley, H.J. Thompson (skip) (Whitiora Bowling Club)
  • Men's fours champions – T. Sunde, C. Hill, A. Sunde, M.A. Marinovich (skip) (Oratia Bowling Club)

Rugby union

  • The British Lions team toured New Zealand, losing the Test series 3–1. They also lost two of their 21 provincial games, to Canterbury and Otago.
  • 18 July, Carisbrook, Dunedin: New Zealand 18 – 17 British Isles
  • 15 August, Athletic Park, Wellington: New Zealand 11 – 8 British Isles
  • 29 August, Lancaster Park, Christchurch: New Zealand 22 – 8 British Isles
  • 19 September, Eden Park, Auckland: New Zealand 6 – 9 British Isles

Soccer

  • The national men's team played one match against a visiting Costa Rican club side:
  • 6 June, Auckland: NZ 3 – 2 Deportivo Saprissa
  • The Chatham Cup was won by Dunedin team Northern who beat North Shore United 3–2 in the final.
  • Provincial league champions:
  • Auckland: North Shore United
  • Bay of Plenty: Kahukura
  • Buller: Denniston Hotspurs
  • Canterbury: Western
  • Hawke's Bay: Napier Athletic
  • Manawatu: Kiwi United
  • Marlborough: Woodbourne
  • Nelson: Rangers
  • Northland: Otangarei United
  • Otago: Northern AFC
  • Poverty Bay: Eastern Union
  • South Canterbury: West End
  • Southland: Rovers
  • Taranaki: Moturoa
  • Waikato: Hamilton Technical OB
  • Wairarapa: Douglas Villa
  • Wanganui: New Settlers
  • Wellington: Northern

Births

Deaths

See also

References

External links