# 1955 in New Zealand

"none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive
The following lists events that happened during 1955 in New Zealand.

## 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.

## Incumbents
### Regal and viceregal

* Head of State – Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand, from 6 February 1952
* Governor-General – Lieutenant-General The Lord Norrie GCMG GCVO CB DSO MC, from 1952 to 1957

### Government

The 31st New Zealand Parliament continued. In power was the National government under Sidney Holland.
* Speaker of the House – Mathew Oram from 1950 to 1957
* Prime Minister – Sidney Holland from 13 December 1949 to 20 September 1957.
* Deputy Prime Minister – Keith Holyoake from 13 December 1949 to 20 September 1957.
* Minister of Finance – Jack Watts from November 1954 until 20 September 1957
* Minister of Foreign Affairs – Tom Macdonald from 26 November 1954 until 12 December 1957
* Chief Justice — Sir Harold Barrowclough

### Parliamentary opposition

* Leader of the Opposition – Walter Nash (Labour).

### Main centre leaders

* Mayor of Auckland – John Luxford from 1953 to 1956
* Mayor of Hamilton – Roderick Braithwaite from 1953 to 1959
* Mayor of Wellington – Robert Macalister from 1950 to 1956
* Mayor of Christchurch – Robert M. Macfarlane from 1938 to 1941 and again from 1950 to 1958
* Mayor of Dunedin – Leonard Morton Wright from 1950 to 1959

## Events

* A pulp and paper mill opens at Kawerau
* The Rimutaka rail tunnel opened
* The Marriage Act 1955 is passed

## Arts and literature

See 1955 in art, 1955 in literature

### Music

See: 1955 in music

### Radio

See: Public broadcasting in New Zealand

### Film

See: Category:1955 film awards, 1955 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, Category:1955 films

## Sport
### Athletics

    Arthur Lydiard wins his second national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:42:34 in Auckland.

### Chess

* The 62nd National Chess Championship was held in Auckland, and was won by Ortvin Sarapu of Auckland (his 4th successive title).

### Horse racing
#### Harness racing

* New Zealand Trotting Cup – Our Roger
* Auckland Trotting Cup – Prince Polka

### Lawn bowls

The national outdoor lawn bowls championships are held in Wellington.
* Men's singles champion – J.H. Rabone (Northern Bowling Club)
* Men's pair champions – W.R. Hawkins, M.G. Borich (skip) (Hamilton Bowling Club)
* Men's fours champions – J. Whitehead, E.A. Horan, A. Robinson, I.B. Evans (skip) (Omarunui Bowling Club)

### Soccer

* The Chatham Cup is won by Western of Christchurch who beat Eastern Suburbs of Auckland 6–2 in the final.
* New Zealand 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: Western
** Hawke's Bay: Napier Rovers
** Manawatu: Kiwi United
** Nelson: Motueka
** Northland: Otangarei United
** Otago: King Edward Technical College OB
** Poverty Bay: Eastern Union
** South Canterbury: West End
** Southland: Invercargill Thistle
** Taranaki: Old Boys
** Waikato: Huntly Thistle
** Wanganui: Wanganui Athletic
** Wellington: Stop Out

## Births

* 16 January: Steve Wooddin, soccer player
* 14 February: Margaret Knighton, equestrian eventer
* 31 March: Robert Vance, cricketer
* 2 April: Steve Sumner, soccer player
* 21 April: Tūheitia Paki, Māori King
* 27 May: Graham 'Jock' Edwards, cricketer
* 1 June: Lorraine Moller, long-distance athlete
* 19 June: Mary O'Connor, long-distance runner
* 16 September: Peter Verhoek, cricketer
* 29 September: Mark Graham, rugby league footballer and coach
* 1 November: Anne Audain, middle and long-distance athlete
* 12 November: Roger Sumich, cyclist
* 26 November: Barbara Tilden, field hockey player
* 2 December: Mark Gosche, politician
* 7 December: Te Ururoa Flavell, politician
* David Hamilton, composer

## Deaths

* 31 January: Bob Semple, trade union leader and politician.
* 7 May: Melville Lyons, politician
* 24 May: Louis Hekenui Bidois, policeman
* 5 June (in England): George Skellerup, industrialist
* 7 September: Henry Braddon, rugby union player.
* 14 December: William Stewart, politician.
* Undated: John Guthrie (at sea) journalist and novelist.