# 1940 in New Zealand

"none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive
The following lists events that happened during 1940 in New Zealand.

## Population

* Estimated population as of 31 December: 1,633,600.
* Increase since 31 December 1939: -8000 (−0.49%).
* Males per 100 females: 99.1.

## Incumbents
### Regal and viceregal

* Head of State – George VI
* Governor-General – The Viscount Galway GCMG DSO OBE PC

### Government

The 26th New Zealand Parliament continued with the Labour Party in government.
* Speaker of the House – Bill Barnard (Labour Party)
* Prime Minister – Michael Joseph Savage then Peter Fraser
* Minister of Finance – Walter Nash
* Minister of Foreign Affairs – Michael Joseph Savage then Frank Langstone
* Attorney-General – Rex Mason
* Chief Justice – Sir Michael Myers

### Parliamentary opposition

* Leader of the Opposition – Adam Hamilton (National Party) until 26 November, then Sidney Holland (National).

### Main centre leaders

* Mayor of Auckland – Ernest Davis
* Mayor of Hamilton – Harold David Caro
* Mayor of Wellington – Thomas Hislop
* Mayor of Christchurch – Robert M. Macfarlane
* Mayor of Dunedin – Andrew Henson Allen

## Events

* 25 March: John A. Lee is expelled from the governing Labour caucus following his outspoken criticism of dying leader Michael Joseph Savage
* 27 March: New Zealand's first Labour Prime Minister, Michael Joseph Savage dies from cancer in Wellington.
* 19 June: The liner RMS Niagara is sunk by a mine laid by the German auxiliary cruiser Orion off Whangarei. She was carrying British gold destined for America.
* 12 July: Pan American Airways flying boat service from Hawaii to Auckland via Canton Island (not Kingman Reef) commences.
* 14 December: The Canterbury Pioneer Women's Memorial was formally opened.
* German surface raiders operated in New Zealand waters in 1940 and 1941, sinking four ships.

## Arts and literature

See 1940 in art, 1940 in literature

### Music

See: 1940 in music

### Radio

See: Public broadcasting in New Zealand

### Film

* Rewi's Last Stand (1940)
* One Hundred Crowded Years
See: Category:1940 film awards, 1940 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, Category:1940 films

## Sport
### Chess

* The 49th National Chess Championship was held in Wellington, and was won by John Dunlop of Dunedin (his 6th and last title).

### Horse racing
#### Harness racing

* New Zealand Trotting Cup – Marlene
* Auckland Trotting Cup – Ned Worthy

### Lawn bowls

The national outdoor lawn bowls championships are held in Wellington.
* Men's singles champion – G.A. Deare (Carlton Bowling Club)
* Men's pair champions – L.G. Donaldson, Bill Bremner (skip) (West End Bowling Club, Auckland)
* Men's fours champions – Bill Whittaker, J.W.T. Macklow, Alec Robertson, Frank Livingstone (skip) (Onehunga Bowling Club)

### Soccer

* The Chatham Cup is won by Waterside who beat Mosgiel 6–2 in the final.
* Provincial league champions:
** Auckland: Comrade
** Canterbury: Western
** Hawke's Bay: Napier HSOB
** Nelson: No competition
** Otago: Mosgiel
** South Canterbury: No competition
** Southland: No competition
** Taranaki: RNZAF
** Waikato: No competition
** Wanganui: Technical College Old Boys
** Wellington: Waterside

## Births

* 12 January: Dick Motz, cricketer (d. 2007)
* 13 February: Stan Rodger, politician (d. 2022)
* 17 February: James Laurenson, actor (d. 2024)
* 23 March: Brian Hastings, cricketer (d. 2024)
* 14 April: Robin Tait, discus thrower (d. 1984)
* 7 June: Felicity Riddy, author and academic
* 10 June (in the USA): Augie Auer, meteorologist (d. 2007)
* 23 June: Mike Shrimpton, cricketer (d. 2015)
* 1 July (in Australia): Judith Binney, historian (d. 2011)
* 8 July: Waka Nathan, rugby union player (d. 2021)
* 15 July: Ian Athfield, architect (d. 2007)
* 11 August: Glenys Page, cricketer (d. 2012)
* 31 August: Maurice (John) Belgrave, public servant and chief ombudsman (d. 2007)
* 3 September: Brian Lochore, rugby player (d. 2019)
* 18 September
** Bruce Murray cricketer
** Jon Trimmer, ballet dancer.
* 24 September: Don Brash, Governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, politician
* 6 October: Merv Wellington, politician (d. 2003)
* 24 October: Martin Campbell, film and TV director
* date unknown
** David Baragwanath, High Court judge.
** Robyn Donald, writer.
** Tessa Duder, writer.
** Joe Hawke, politician.
* Michael Jackson, poet, anthropologist
** Maurice McTigue, politician and diplomat.

## Deaths

* 12 January: Taurekareka Henare, politician.
* 27 March: Michael Joseph Savage, Prime Minister.
* 28 May: Florence Young, missionary.
* 6 June: F.O. Edgar "Cobber" Kain, first RAF ace of WWII.
* 17 November: Frank Moore, political activist.
* Hannah Retter, New Zealand centenarian (born 1839)