# 1879 in New Zealand

"none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive
The following lists events that happened during 1879 in New Zealand.

## Incumbents
### Regal and viceregal

* Head of State – Queen Victoria
* Governor – The term of The Marquess of Normanby ends on 21 February. Sir Hercules Robinson takes up the appointment on 27 March.

### Government and law

The general election is held between 15 August and 1 September; a law was passed to confirm the result in three electorates (Marsden, Northern Maori and Western Maori); and to clarify the law about electoral petitions (1880). The 7th New Zealand Parliament commences.
* Speaker of the House – Maurice O'Rorke becomes Speaker when his predecessor, Sir William Fitzherbert, is appointed to the Legislative Council.
* Premier – John Hall replaces Sir George Grey on 8 October.
* Minister of Finance – John Hall replaces Sir George Grey on 8 October. Grey had taken up the post on 10 July after John Ballance had resigned on 1 July.
* Chief Justice – Hon Sir James Prendergast
Voting rights are extended to all males.
The term of parliament is reduced from five years to three years.

### Main centre leaders

* Mayor of Auckland – Thomas Peacock
* Mayor of Christchurch – Henry Thomson followed by Charles Thomas Ick
* Mayor of Dunedin – Henry John Walter
* Mayor of Wellington – Joseph Dransfield followed by George Allen followed by William Hutchison

## Events

* 21 February: An explosion in the coal mine at Kaitangata kills 34 men.
* 30 March: The Ross Guardian ceases publication. It began in 1866.
* 8 September: A fire sweeps through several buildings in central Dunedin, killing 12 people.
* Education (secular or denominational) was being debated. In two by-elections the winner was described as a Secularist: David Goldie in the 1879 City of Auckland West by-election and Acton Adams in the 1879 City of Nelson by-election. They opposed Curtis's bill before parliament.

## Sport
### Chess

* The first New Zealand Chess Championship is held and was won by H. Hookham (Christchurch)

### Horse racing
#### Major race winners

* New Zealand Cup – Chancellor
* New Zealand Derby – Hornby
* Auckland Cup – Ariel
* Wellington Cup – Maritana

### Lawn bowls

The first annual competition between clubs from different centres begins between Christchurch and Dunedin clubs.

### Rugby union

* 26 July: The first union in New Zealand, Canterbury Rugby Football Union, is formed at Timaru, incorporating Christchurch, Christ's College, Temuka, North Canterbury, Eastern, South Canterbury, Ashburton, and Southbridge rugby clubs.
* 20 October: The Wellington Rugby Football Union is formed, initially consisting of the Wellington and Athletic clubs.

### Shooting

Ballinger Belt – Corporal W. Ballinger (Wellington)

## Births

* 18 January: Agnes Weston, politician (MLC).
* 25 May: Andrew Kennaway Henderson, illustrator, cartoonist and pacifist
* 30 August (in London): Maud Ruby "Daisy" Basham, radio personality.
* 15 June: Miriam Cummings (later Miriam Soljak), activist.
* 28 December: Claude Weston, politician.

## Deaths

* 2 February (in England): General Sir Thomas Pratt, commander British forces in NZ 1860–61.
* 3 March: Jerningham Wakefield, politician and pioneer settler.
* 24 April – John Munro, politician (b. 1798/99)
* 14 May: Henry Sewell, politician.
* 14 July: Thomas Outhwaite, first registrar of the Supreme Court.