1956 in New Zealand

1956 in New Zealand
The following lists events that happened during 1956 in New Zealand.
Population
Estimated population as of 31 December: 2,209,200.
Increase since 31 December 1955: 44,400 (2.05%).
Males per 100 females: 101.2.
Incumbents
Regal and viceregal
Head of State – Elizabeth II
Governor-General – Lieutenant-General The Lord Norrie GCMG GCVO CB DSO MC.
Government
The 31st New Zealand Parliament continued. In power was the National government under Sidney Holland.
Speaker of the House – Mathew Oram
Prime Minister – Sidney Holland.
Deputy Prime Minister – Keith Holyoake.
Minister of Finance – Jack Watts.
Minister of Foreign Affairs – Tom Macdonald.
Attorney-General – Jack Marshall.
Chief Justice — Sir Harold Barrowclough
Parliamentary opposition
Leader of the Opposition – Walter Nash (Labour).
Main centre leaders
Mayor of Auckland – John Luxford, followed by Thomas Ashby
Mayor of Hamilton – Roderick Braithwaite
Mayor of Wellington – Robert Macalister, followed by Frank Kitts
Mayor of Christchurch – Robert M. Macfarlane
Mayor of Dunedin – Leonard Morton Wright
Events
8 March: Opo the friendly Dolphin dies in the Hokianga.
13 March – After 26 years playing international cricket the New Zealand wins its first ever test victory against the West Indies at Eden Park.
New Zealand troops are sent to Malaya.
Roxburgh Dam is opened.
Temperzone manufacturing is founded.
Arts and literature
See 1956 in art, 1956 in literature
Music
See: 1956 in music
Radio
See: Public broadcasting in New Zealand
Film
See: :Category:1956 film awards, 1956 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, :Category:1956 films
Sport
Athletics
Albert Richards wins his first national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:31:46 in Christchurch.
Chess
The 63rd National Chess Championship was held in Dunedin, and was won by F.A. Foulds of Auckland.
Horse racing
Harness racing
New Zealand Trotting Cup – Thunder
Auckland Trotting Cup – Unite
Lawn bowls
The national outdoor lawn bowls championships are held in Dunedin.
Men's singles champion – G.G. Littlejohn (Hutt Bowling Club)
Men's pair champions – L.J. Hughes, E.H. Ravenwood (skip) (North-East Valley Bowling Club)
Men's fours champions – P.C.F. Barrat, C.E. Tomlinson, L.J. Buckingham, Robbie Robson (skip) (Mangakino Bowling Club)
Olympic Games
Summer Olympics
Winter Olympics
New Zealand did not participate in the 1956 Winter Olympics.
Soccer
The Chatham Cup is won by Stop Out (Lower Hutt) who beat Shamrock (soccer) of Christchurch 4–1 in the final.
Provincial league champions:
Auckland: Onehunga
Bay of Plenty: Rangers
Buller: Millerton Thistle
Canterbury: Western
Hawke's Bay: Napier Athletic
Manawatu: Kiwi United
Marlborough: Blenheim B
Nelson: Settlers
Northland: Kamo Swifts
Otago: Northern AFC
Poverty Bay: Eastern Union
South Canterbury: West End
Southland: Brigadiers
Taranaki: Moturoa
Waikato: Huntly Thistle
Wairarapa: No competition
Wanganui: Technical College Old Boys
Wellington: Stop Out
Births
3 January: Judith Tizard, politician
6 January: Stephen Cox, cyclist
16 January: Mark Burton, politician
4 February: Gerry Brownlee, politician
16 February: Vincent Ward, film director
1 March: Mark Todd, equestrian eventer
3 March: John F. Reid, cricketer
13 April: Peter 'Possum' Bourne, rally driver
17 April: Jaynie Parkhouse, freestyle swimmer
26 April: Tinks Pottinger, equestrian eventer
8 May: Richard Wilson, soccer player
10 May: Chris Kuggeleijn, cricket player and coach
23 May: Mark Shaw, rugby union footballer and selector
18 August: Andrew Bennie, equestrian eventer
29 September: Jenny Morris, singer
8 November: Richard Curtis, screenwriter
23 November: Bruce Edgar, cricketer
12 December: Barry Pickering, soccer player
16 December: Rodney Hide, politician
Chris Finlayson, politician
James Belich, historian
(in Paris, France) Christopher Marshall, composer
Douglas Wright, dancer and choreographer
Deaths
17 April: Sir Alexander Young, politician.
22 May: John Christopher Rolleston, politician.
29 May: Charlie Seeling, rugby footballer.
17 June: Charles Boswell, politician.
19 June: Bernard Martin, politician.
12 September: George Gillett, rugby player.
21 November: Jim Thorn, labour leader and politician.
References
See also
List of years in New Zealand
Timeline of New Zealand history
History of New Zealand
Military history of New Zealand
Timeline of the New Zealand environment
Timeline of New Zealand's links with Antarctica
Years of the 20th century in New Zealand