1959 British Lions tour to Australia and New Zealand
Results
Table:
Date

Opponent

Location

Result

Score

23 May

Victoria

Melbourne, Australia

Win

53–18

30 May

New South Wales

Sydney

Loss

14–18

2 June

Queensland

Brisbane, Australia

Win

39–11

6 June

Australia

Brisbane, Australia

Win

17–6

9 June

New South Wales Country Districts

Tamworth, Australia

Win

27–14

13 June

Australia

Sydney

Win

24–3

20 June

Hawke's Bay

Napier, New Zealand

Win

52–12

24 June

East Coast-Poverty Bay

Gisborne, New Zealand

Win

23–14

27 June

Auckland

Auckland

Win

15–10

1 July

New Zealand Universities

Christchurch, New Zealand

Win

25–13

4 July

Otago

Dunedin, New Zealand

Loss

8–26

8 July

South Canterbury, North Otago & Mid Canterbury

Timaru, New Zealand

Win

21–11

11 July

Southland

Invercargill, New Zealand

Win

11–6

18 July

New Zealand

Dunedin

Loss

17–18

22 July

West Coast / Buller

Greymouth, New Zealand

Win

58–3

25 July

Canterbury

Christchurch

Loss

14–20

29 July

Marlborough, Nelson, Golden Bay & Motueka

Blenheim, New Zealand

Win

64–5

1 August

Wellington

Wellington, New Zealand

Win

21–6

5 August

Wanganui

Wanganui, New Zealand

Win

9–6

8 August

Taranaki

New Plymouth, New Zealand

Win

15–3

Using the provided table along with the relevant paragraphs listed at the end.

Respond to the question below: What is the date of the match whose opponent is the governing body for the sport of rugby union ? Respond with the correct answer (omit explanations) in JSON format as {"answer": "YOUR ANSWER"}. Avoid adding external knowledge.

Rugby Victoria , formerly the Victorian Rugby Union , is a member and founding union of Rugby Australia . Within the state of Victoria , it is the governing body for the sport of rugby union . Rugby Victoria manages competitions for males and females in several age groups and divisions , and involving clubs from metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria . Rugby union was founded in Melbourne in 1888 . However competition lapsed and was twice re-established during the first twenty years , and again after the first World War when the present governing body was founded in 1926 , then known as the Victorian Rugby Union , or VRU . In December 2017 , the VRU was re-branded as Rugby Victoria .
Melbourne ( /ˈmɛlbən/ ( listen ) MEL-bərn ) [ note 1 ] is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria , and the second most populous city in Australia and Oceania . Its name refers to an urban agglomeration of 9,993 km2 ( 3,858 sq mi ) , comprising a metropolitan area with 31 municipalities , and is also the common name for its city centre . The city occupies much of the coastline of Port Phillip bay and spreads into the hinterlands towards the Dandenong and Macedon ranges , Mornington Peninsula and Yarra Valley . It has a population of 5 million ( 19% of the population of Australia ) , and its inhabitants are referred to as Melburnians . [ note 2 ] The city was founded on 30 August 1835 , in the then-British colony of New South Wales , by free settlers from the colony of Van Diemens Land ( modern-day Tasmania ) . It was incorporated as a Crown settlement in 1837 , and named Melbourne by Governor General Richard Bourke on 10 April 1837 in honour of the British Prime Minister , William Lamb , 2nd Viscount Melbourne . In 1851 , four years after Queen Victoria declared it a city , Melbourne became the capital of the new colony of Victoria . In the wake of the 1850s Victorian gold rush , the city entered a lengthy boom period that , by the late 1880s , had transformed it into one of the world 's largest and wealthiest metropolises . After the federation of Australia in 1901 , it served as interim seat of government of the new nation until Canberra became the permanent capital in 1927 . Today , it is a leading financial centre in the Asia-Pacific region and ranks 15th in the Global Financial Centres Index . Melbourne is home to many of Australia 's best-known landmarks , such as the Melbourne Cricket Ground , the National Gallery of Victoria and the World Heritage-listed Royal Exhibition Building . It is also the birthplace of Australian impressionism , Australian rules football , and the Australian film and television industries .
The New South Wales Waratahs ( /ˈwɒrətɑːz/ or /ˌwɒrəˈtɑːz/ ; referred to as the Waratahs , are an Australian rugby union team representing the majority of New South Wales in the Super Rugby competition . The Riverina and other southern parts of the state , are represented by the Brumbies , who are based in Canberra , Australian Capital Territory ( ACT ) . The Waratahs name has historically been the name for the New South Wales Rugby Union ( NSWRU ) representative team , and became the name for the New South Wales team when it entered the Super Six , Super 10 and Super 12 competitions . The name and emblem comes from the waratah , the state flower for New South Wales . Until 2019 , their home ground was Sydney Football Stadium in Sydney . With this closed for demolition and rebuilding , in 2019 home games will be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground and Western Sydney Stadium .
The Queensland Reds is the rugby union team for the Australian state of Queensland that competes in the Southern Hemisphere 's Super Rugby competition . Prior to 1996 they were a representative team selected from the rugby union club competitions in Queensland . With the introduction of the professional Super 12 competition they moved to a model where players are contracted to the Reds through the Queensland Rugby Union rather than selected on the basis of club form . From 1996 to 2005 they were one of three Australian teams competing in the Super 12 competition , alongside the New South Wales Waratahs and the ACT Brumbies . Queensland finished as minor premiers in 1996 and 1999 . From 2006 to 2010 , they competed in the expanded Super 14 competition as one of four Australian sides . Beginning in 2011 , they are one of five Australian sides in the expanded and renamed Super Rugby , winning the competition in its first season in its new format . In 2012 they finished first in the Australian conference .
Brisbane ( /ˈbrɪzbən/ ( listen ) ) is the capital of and the most populated city in the Australian state of Queensland , and the third most populous city in Australia . Brisbane 's metropolitan area has a population of approximately 2.5 million , and the South East Queensland metropolitan region , centred on Brisbane , encompasses a population of more than 3.6 million . [ failed verification ] The Brisbane central business district stands on the historic European settlement and is situated inside a peninsula of the Brisbane River , about 15 kilometres ( 9 miles ) from its mouth at Moreton Bay , a bay of the Coral Sea . The metropolitan area extends in all directions along the hilly floodplain of the Brisbane River Valley between Moreton Bay and the Taylor and D'Aguilar mountain ranges . It sprawls across several of Australia 's most populous local government areas ( LGAs ) - most centrally the City of Brisbane , which is by far the most populous LGA in the nation . The demonym of Brisbane is Brisbanite , whilst common nicknames include Brissy , River City and Brisvegas . One of the oldest cities in Australia , Brisbane was founded upon the ancient homelands of the indigenous Turrbal and Jagera peoples . Named after the Brisbane River on which it is located - which in turn takes its name from Sir Thomas Brisbane , the Governor of New South Wales at the time of the city 's founding - the area was chosen as a place for secondary offenders from the Sydney Colony . A penal settlement was founded in 1824 at Redcliffe , 28 kilometres ( 17 mi ) north of the central business district , but was soon abandoned and moved to North Quay in 1825 , opening to free settlement in 1842 . Brisbane was chosen as the capital when Queensland was proclaimed a separate colony from New South Wales in 1859 . During World War II , Brisbane played a central role in the Allied campaign and served as the South West Pacific headquarters for United States Army General Douglas MacArthur . A diverse city with 32.2% of its metropolitan population being foreign born , Brisbane is ranked as a world city , and ranks highly in ratings of livable cities .
The Australia national rugby union team , nicknamed the Wallabies , is the representative national team in the sport of rugby union for the nation of Australia . The team first played at Sydney in 1899 , winning their first test match against the touring British Isles team . Australia have competed in all eight Rugby World Cups , winning the final on two occasions and also finishing as runner-up twice . Australia beat England at Twickenham in the final of the 1991 Rugby World Cup and won again in 1999 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff when their opponents in the final were France . The Wallabies also compete annually in The Rugby Championship ( formerly the Tri-Nations ) , along with southern hemisphere counterparts Argentina , New Zealand and South Africa . They have won this championship on four occasions . Australia also plays Test matches against the various rugby-playing nations . More than a dozen former Wallabies players have been inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame .
The New South Wales Country Cockatoos is an amateur representative rugby union football team . Players in the team are selected by the New South Wales Country Rugby Union from regions of New South Wales excluding Sydney and Southern NSW . New South Wales Country plays regular fixtures with other representative sides including City-Country matches with New South Wales Suburban for the Maher-Ross Cup , and the Battle of the Borders Cup against the Queensland Country Heelers .
Tamworth is a city and the administrative centre of the New England region of northern New South Wales , Australia . Situated on the Peel River within the local government area of Tamworth Regional Council , it is the largest and most populated city in the New England region , with a population of 42,872 in June 2018 , making it the second largest inland city in New South Wales . Tamworth is 318 km ( 198 mi ) from the Queensland border , and it is located almost midway between Brisbane and Sydney . The city is known as the First Town of Lights , being the first place in Australia to use electric street lights in 1888 . Tamworth is also famous as the Country Music Capital of Australia , annually hosting the Tamworth Country Music Festival in late January ; the second-biggest country music festival in the world , after Nashville . The city is recognised as the National Equine Capital of Australia because of the high number of equine events held in the city and the construction of the world-class Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre , the biggest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere .
The Hawke 's Bay Rugby Union ( HBRU ) is the governing body of rugby union in the Hawke 's Bay region of New Zealand . The union is based in Napier . The Hawke 's Bay representative team are nicknamed The Magpies .
Napier ( /ˈneɪpiər/ NAY-pee-ər ; Māori : Ahuriri ) is a New Zealand city with a seaport , located in Hawke 's Bay on the eastern coast of the North Island . The population of Napier is about 62,800 as of June 2019 . About 18 kilometres ( 11 mi ) south of Napier is the inland city of Hastings . These two neighbouring cities are often called The Bay Cities or The Twin Cities of New Zealand . The total population of the Napier-Hastings Urban Area is 134,500 people , which makes it the sixth-largest urban area in New Zealand , closely followed by Dunedin ( 122,000 ) , and trailing Tauranga ( 141,600 ) . Napier is about 320 kilometres ( 200 mi ) northeast of the capital city of Wellington . Napier ( 63,900 ) has a smaller population than its neighbouring city of Hastings ( 70,600 ) but is seen as the main centre due to it being closer in distance to both the seaport and the main airport that service Hawke 's Bay , and Hastings ' population figure includes 13,000 people living in Havelock North , which is often considered a town in its own right . The City of Napier has a land area of 106 square kilometres ( 41 sq mi ) and a population density of 540.0 per square kilometre . Napier is the nexus of the largest wool centre in the Southern Hemisphere , and it has the primary export seaport for northeastern New Zealand - which is the largest producer of apples , pears , and stone fruit in New Zealand . The Hawke 's Bay wine region is now the second largest in New Zealand after Marlborough , and grapes grown around Hastings and Napier are sent through the Port of Napier for export . Large amounts of sheep 's wool , frozen meat , wood pulp , and timber also pass through Napier annually for export . Smaller amounts of these materials are shipped via road and railway to the large metropolitan areas of New Zealand itself , such as Auckland , Wellington and Hamilton .
The East Coast Rugby Football Union is a constituent union in the New Zealand Rugby Union . It is located on the East Coast of the North Island , based in Ruatoria . It is the smallest Union in New Zealand in the sense of player numbers and population base . Due to the high number of players from the Ngati Porou iwi , the team is often referred to as Ngati Porou East Coast . The Ngati Porou East Coast team home ground is Whakarua Park , Ruatoria . Ngati Porou East Coast were recently holders of the Meads Cup , defeating Wanganui 29-27 at Whakarua Park on 27 October 2012 .
The Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union is the governing body for rugby union within the Gisborne district , in the area surrounding Poverty Bay on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand . The men 's representative team play from Rugby Park , Gisborne , and currently compete in the Heartland Championship .
Gisborne ( Māori : Tūranga-nui-a-Kiwa Great standing place of Kiwa ) is a city in northeastern New Zealand and the largest settlement in the Gisborne District ( or Gisborne Region ) . It has a population of 37,200 ( June 2018 ) . The district council has its headquarters in Whataupoko , in the central city . The settlement was originally known as Turanga and renamed Gisborne in 1870 in honour of New Zealand Colonial Secretary William Gisborne .
The Auckland Rugby Union ( known as Auckland for competition reasons ) are a New Zealand governing body of rugby union in the New Zealand province of Auckland . The ARU governs the running of the Auckland representative team which have won New Zealand 's first-tier domestic competition , National Provincial Championship ( Air New Zealand Cup and ITM Cup ) 17 times - more than any other team . Their most recent victory was the 2018 competition . Auckland also acts as a primary feeder to the Blues , who play in the Super Rugby competition . The union is being coached by former All Black midfielder , Alama Ieremia . The union also administers all club rugby within the region , including the Gallaher Shield and other senior club rugby . As well , the union is responsible for school rugby .
Auckland ( /ˈɔːklənd/ AWK-lənd ) ( Māori : Tāmaki Makaurau ) is a city in the North Island of New Zealand . The most populous urban area in the country , Auckland has an urban population of around 1,570,100 ( June 2018 ) . It is located in the Auckland Region - the area governed by Auckland Council - which includes outlying rural areas and the islands of the Hauraki Gulf , resulting in a total population of 1,618,400 . Auckland is a diverse , multicultural and cosmopolitan city , home to the largest Polynesian population in the world . The Māori-language name for Auckland is Tāmaki Makaurau , meaning Tāmaki desired by many , in reference to the desirability of its natural resources and geography . Auckland lies between the Hauraki Gulf of the Pacific Ocean to the east , the low Hunua Ranges to the south-east , the Manukau Harbour to the south-west , and the Waitakere Ranges and smaller ranges to the west and north-west . The surrounding hills are covered in rainforest and the landscape is dotted with dozens of dormant volcanic cones . The central part of the urban area occupies a narrow isthmus between the Manukau Harbour on the Tasman Sea and the Waitematā Harbour on the Pacific Ocean . Auckland is one of the few cities in the world to have a harbour on each of two separate major bodies of water . The isthmus on which Auckland resides was first settled around 1350 and was valued for its rich and fertile land . The Māori population in the area is estimated to have peaked at 20,000 before the arrival of Europeans . After a British colony was established in 1840 , William Hobson , then Lieutenant-Governor of New Zealand , chose the area as his new capital .
Christchurch ( /ˈkraɪstʃɜːrtʃ/ ; Māori : Ōtautahi ) is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand and the seat of the Canterbury Region . The Christchurch urban area lies on the South Island 's east coast , just north of Banks Peninsula . The urban area is home to 377,200 residents , and the territorial authority has 385,500 people , which makes it the second-most populous city in New Zealand after Auckland and before Wellington . The Avon River flows through the centre of the city , with an urban park located along its banks . Archaeological evidence has indicated that people first settled in the Christchurch area in about 1250 . Christchurch became a city by Royal Charter on 31 July 1856 , making it officially the oldest established city in New Zealand . The Canterbury Association , which settled the Canterbury Plains , named the city after Christ Church , Oxford . The new settlement was laid out in a grid pattern centred on Cathedral Square ; during the 19th century there were few barriers to the rapid growth of the urban area , except for the Pacific to the east and the Port Hills to the south . Agriculture is the historic mainstay of Christchurch 's economy . The early presence of the University of Canterbury and the heritage of the city 's academic institutions in association with local businesses has fostered a number of technology-based industries . Christchurch is one of five 'gateway cities ' for Antarctic exploration , hosting Antarctic support bases for several nations . The city suffered a series of earthquakes between September 2010 and January 2012 , with the most destructive of them occurring at 12.51 p.m. on Tuesday , 22 February 2011 , in which 185 people were killed and thousands of buildings across the city collapsed or suffered severe damage .
The Otago Rugby Football Union is the official governing body of rugby union for the Otago region of New Zealand . The union is based in the city of Dunedin , and its home ground is Forsyth Barr Stadium . The top representative team competes in the ITM Cup , New Zealand 's top provincial competition . The union was to have been liquidated in March 2012 . However a deal involving the Dunedin City Council allowed it to keep operating . Otago are the current holders of the Ranfurly Shield after winning it from Waikato in a 23-19 victory in Hamilton on 13 October 2018 .
Dunedin ( /dʌˈniːdɪn/ ( listen ) duh-NEE-din ; Māori : Ōtepoti ) is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand ( after Christchurch ) , and the principal city of the Otago region . Its name comes from Dùn Èideann , the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh , the capital of Scotland . The urban area of Dunedin lies on the central-eastern coast of Otago , surrounding the head of Otago Harbour , and the harbour and hills around Dunedin are the remnants of an extinct volcano . The city suburbs extend out into the surrounding valleys and hills , onto the isthmus of the Otago Peninsula , and along the shores of the Otago Harbour and the Pacific Ocean . Dunedin was the largest New Zealand city by territorial land area until superseded by Auckland with the formation of the Auckland Council in November 2010 . Archaeological evidence points to lengthy occupation of the area by Māori prior to the arrival of Europeans . The province and region of Otago takes its name from the Ngai Tahu village of Otakou at the mouth of the harbour , which became a whaling station in the 1830s . In 1848 a Scottish settlement was established by the Lay Association of the Free Church of Scotland . Between 1855 and 1900 many thousands of Scots emigrated to the incorporated city . Dunedin became wealthy during the Central Otago Gold Rush , beginning in the 1860s . In the mid-1860s , and between 1878 and 1881 , it was New Zealand 's largest urban area . The city population at 5 March 2013 was 120,246 .
The South Canterbury Rugby Football Union ( SCRFU ) is a rugby province based in the central South Island city of Timaru , New Zealand . The South Canterbury team play from Alpine Energy Stadium located in Timaru .
The North Otago Rugby Football Union ( NORFU ) is a New Zealand rugby union province based in Oamaru and compete in the Heartland Championship . They are one of the strongest teams in The Heartland Championship , winning the Meads Cup section of the competition in its second year , 2007 as well as 2010 . Their home ground is Whitestone Contracting Stadium , formerly Centennial Park . The North Otago Rugby Football Union was founded in 1927 and over the years they have had many highs and lows . In 1930 they hosted the All Blacks before the first test against the British and Irish Lions , In 1962 they hosted and beat Australia during their tour of New Zealand . In the NPC they had sat near the bottom of the third division table until they beat Horowhenua-Kapiti Rugby Football Union in the final in 2002 and moved to the second division where they were regular semi-finalists . In the 2006 Heartland Championship they lost the Meads Cup semi-final to Wairarapa Bush Rugby Football Union after being pre-tournament favourites . In 2007 they won the Meads Cup after beating Wanganui 25-8 in the final . Their rugby gear is made by Samurai Sportswear . In the 2010 competition they won the Meads Cup final 39-18 at home against Wanganui .
The Mid Canterbury Rugby Football Union ( MCRFU ) is a rugby province in the South Island of New Zealand .
Timaru ( English : /ˈtɪməˌruː/ ; Māori : Te Tihi-o-Maru ) is a port city in the southern Canterbury region of New Zealand , located 157 kilometres ( 98 mi ) southwest of Christchurch and about 196 kilometres ( 122 mi ) northeast of Dunedin on the eastern Pacific coast of the South Island . The Timaru urban area is home to 29,100 people , and is the largest urban area in South Canterbury , and the second largest in the Canterbury Region overall , after Christchurch . The city is the seat of the Timaru District , which includes the surrounding rural area and the towns of Geraldine , Pleasant Point and Temuka , which combined has a total population of 47,700 . Caroline Bay beach is a popular recreational area located close to Timaru 's city centre , just to the north of the substantial port facilities . Beyond Caroline Bay , the industrial suburb of Washdyke is at a major junction with State Highway 8 , the main route into the Mackenzie Country . This provides a road link to Pleasant Point , Fairlie , Twizel , Lake Tekapo , Aoraki / Mount Cook and Queenstown . Timaru has been built on rolling hills created from the lava flows of the extinct Mt Horrible volcano , which last erupted thousands of years ago . The result is that most of the main streets are undulating , a clear contrast with the flat landscape of the Canterbury Plains to the north . This volcanic rock is used for the construction of local bluestone buildings .
Rugby Southland is the provincial rugby union who govern the Southland Region of New Zealand . Their headquarters are at Rugby Park Stadium in Invercargill , which is also the home ground of the union 's professional team , the Southland Stags who compete in the Mitre 10 Cup Championship Division and challenge for the Ranfurly Shield . Despite their proud history , no Southland team has ever won the top division of the New Zealand National Provincial Championship since organised competition began in 1976 . However , they have won the NPC second division title five times and held the Ranfurly Shield seven times , most recently in 2011 where they defended the shield twice before losing it to Taranaki . Southland also plays for the Donald Stuart Memorial Shield against rivals Otago in what is the longest tenured provincial rivalry in New Zealand first-class rugby , with 229 matches .
Invercargill ( /ˌɪnvərˈkɑːrɡɪl/ , Māori : Waihōpai ) is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand , and one of the southernmost cities in the world . It is the commercial centre of the Southland region . The city lies in the heart of the wide expanse of the Southland Plains on the Oreti or New River some 18 km north of Bluff , which is the southernmost town in the South Island . It sits amid rich farmland that is bordered by large areas of conservation land and marine reserves , including Fiordland National Park covering the south-west corner of the South Island and the Catlins coastal region . Many streets in the city , especially in the centre and main shopping district , are named after rivers in Great Britain , mainly Scotland . These include the main streets Dee and Tay , as well as those named after the Tweed , Forth , Tyne , Esk , Don , Ness , Yarrow , Spey and Eye rivers . The 2013 census showed the population was 51,696 , up 2.7% on the 2006 census number .
The New Zealand national rugby union team , commonly known as the All Blacks , represents New Zealand in men 's international rugby union , which is considered to be the country 's national sport . The team won the Rugby World Cup in 2011 and 2015 , as well as the inaugural tournament in 1987 . New Zealand has a 77 per cent winning record in test match rugby , and is the only international men 's side to have secured more wins than losses against every opponent . Since their international debut in 1903 , they have played test matches against 19 nations , of which 12 have never won a game against the All Blacks . The team has also played against three multinational all-star teams , losing only eight of 45 matches . Since the introduction of the World Rugby Rankings in 2003 , New Zealand has held the number one ranking longer than all other teams combined . They jointly hold the record for the most consecutive test match wins for a tier one ranked nation , along with England . The All Blacks compete with Argentina , Australia and South Africa in The Rugby Championship , and have won the trophy sixteen times in the competition 's 23-year history . The team has completed a Grand Slam tour , against the four nations of the United Kingdom , four times ( 1978 , 2005 , 2008 and 2010 ) . New Zealand has been named the World Rugby Team of the Year ten times since the award was created in 2001 , and an All Black has won the World Rugby Player of the Year award ten times over the same period . Fifteen former All Blacks have been inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame . The team 's first match was in 1884 in New South Wales , and their first international test match was in 1903 against Australia in Sydney .
The West Coast Rugby Football Union , formed in 1890 , is the official governing body for rugby union in a substantial part of the West Coast region of New Zealand and is affiliated to the New Zealand Rugby Union . The team is based in Greymouth and plays home matches at John Sturgeon Park ( known as Rugby Park until 2018 ) .
The Buller Rugby Union ( BRU ) is a rugby union province based in the town of Westport , New Zealand . The Buller provincial boundary also includes other notable towns such as Reefton , Karamea , Granity , Charleston , Punakaiki and Murchison ( Murchison RFC currently compete in the Tasman provincial Union competition ) .
Greymouth ( /ˈɡreɪmaʊθ/ ) ( Māori : Māwhera ) is the largest town in the West Coast region in the South Island of New Zealand , and the seat of the Grey District Council . The population of the whole Grey District is 13,750 , which accounts for 42% of the West Coast 's inhabitants . The Greymouth urban area had an estimated population of 9,700 ( June 2018 ) . The District Council expects growth of 1.5% per year between 2006 and 2016 .
The Canterbury Rugby Football Union ( also referred to as Canterbury or CRFU ) is the governing body for rugby union in a portion of the Canterbury Region of New Zealand . Its colours are red and black in a hooped design . The CRFU govern the running of the Canterbury representative team which have won New Zealand 's first-tier domestic competition National Provincial Championship ( Air New Zealand Cup and ITM Cup ) 14 times including a six-peat from 2008 to 2013 - with five in the National Provincial Championship , two in the Air New Zealand Cup , five in the ITM Cup and one in the Mitre 10 Cup . Their most recent victory was the 2017 Mitre 10 Cup . Canterbury also acts as a primary feeder to the Crusaders , who play in the Super Rugby competition . The union also administers all club rugby within the region , including senior club rugby and school rugby . Canterbury has a proud history producing All Blacks , the most of any New Zealand region , with Scott Barrett becoming Canterbury 's 200th All Black .
The Tasman Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in Tasman Bay , a bay at the north end of the South Island in New Zealand . Headquartered in Nelson , TRU is New Zealand 's newest provincial union , founded in 2006 with the amalgamation of the existing Marlborough and Nelson Bays sub unions . The union 's premier team is the Tasman Mako which compete in New Zealand 's provincial rugby competition , the Mitre 10 Cup .
Blenheim ( /ˈblɛnɪm/ BLEN-im ; Māori : Waiharakeke ) is the most populous town in the region of Marlborough , in the north east of the South Island of New Zealand . It has an urban population of 31,600 ( June 2018 ) . The surrounding Marlborough wine region is well known as the centre of the New Zealand wine industry . It enjoys one of New Zealand 's sunniest climates , with warm , relatively dry summers and cool , crisp winters . Blenheim is named after the Battle of Blenheim ( 1704 ) , where troops led by John Churchill , 1st Duke of Marlborough defeated a combined French and Bavarian force . The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of flax stream for Waiharakeke .
The Wellington Rugby Football Union ( known as the Wellington Lions for competition reasons ) are a New Zealand governing body of rugby union in the New Zealand province of Wellington Region . The main stadium is Sky Stadium ( formerly named Westpac Stadium ) which is located in Wellington . The union also represents the Wellington Lions , which is professional rugby union team who compete in the Mitre 10 Cup competition and contest for the Ranfurly Shield . Before 2006 the Lions competed in the National Provincial Championship .
Wellington ( Māori : Te Whanganui-a-Tara [ tɛ ˈfaŋanʉi a taɾa ] ) is the capital and second-most populous urban area of New Zealand , with 418,500 residents . It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island , between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range . Wellington is the major population centre of the southern North Island , and is the administrative centre of the Wellington Region , which also includes the Kapiti Coast and the Wairarapa . It is the world 's southernmost capital of a sovereign state . Wellington features a temperate maritime climate , and is the world 's windiest city by average wind speed . The Wellington metropolitan area comprises four local authorities : Wellington City , on the peninsula between Cook Strait and Wellington Harbour , contains the central business district and about half the population ; Porirua on Porirua Harbour to the north is notable for its large Māori and Pacific Island communities ; Lower Hutt and Upper Hutt are largely suburban areas to the northeast , together known as the Hutt Valley . As the nation 's capital since 1865 , the New Zealand Government and Parliament , Supreme Court and most of the public service are based in the city . Architectural sights include The Old Government Buildings - one of the largest wooden buildings in the world - as well as the iconic Beehive , the executive wing of the New Zealand Parliament . Wellington is also home to several of the largest and oldest cultural institutions in the nation , such the National Archives , the National Library , the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa , and numerous theatres . It plays host to many artistic and cultural organisations , including the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and Royal New Zealand Ballet . One of the world 's most liveable cities , the 2016 Mercer Quality of Living Survey ranked Wellington 12th in the world , and was first in the world for both liveability and non-pollution by Deutsche Bank , from 2017-18 . Wellington 's economy is primarily service-based , with an emphasis on finance , business services , and government .
The Wanganui Rugby Football Union ( WRFU ) is the governing body for rugby union in the Whanganui region of New Zealand . The Wanganui Rugby Football Union was formed in 1888 . The Wanganui team play from Cooks Gardens , Whanganui , and have enjoyed much success on the playing field throughout their history . The side are one of the leading provinces in New Zealand purely for the number of Divisional Championships won . Since the introduction of the National Provincial Championship in 1976 , Wanganui have won the 3rd most Provincial Championship titles , with 10 Championships to their name . They sit behind only Auckland ( with 16 Championships ) and Canterbury ( with 13 championships ) . Both the Taranaki and South Canterbury Rugby Unions sit just behind Wanganui with 8 Provincial Championships each . Further to this , the Wanganui team have played in Heartland Championship Grand Finals in 11 of the last 12 seasons of the Heartland Championship competition ( 10 in the top tier Meads Cup , and 1 in the second tier Lochore Cup ) . The Wanganui team were promoted to the top tier of New Zealand Rugby ( the Air New Zealand Cup Division One competition ) , for the 2010 season . Subsequently , the NZRU later announced another alteration to the NPC format for 2010 and 2011 , which meant the Air New Zealand Cup remained a 14-team competition .
Whanganui ( /ˈhwɒŋənuːi/ ; Māori : [ ɸaŋanui ] ) , also spelled Wanganui , is a city on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand . The Whanganui River , New Zealand 's longest navigable waterway , runs from Mount Tongariro to the sea . Whanganui is part of the Manawatū-Whanganui region . Whanganui is the ancestral home of Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi and other Whanganui Māori tribes . The New Zealand Company began to settle the area in 1840 , establishing its second settlement after Wellington . In the early years most European settlers came via Wellington . Whanganui greatly expanded in the 1870s , and freezing works , woollen mills , phosphate works and wool stores were established in the town . Today , much of Whanganui 's economy relates directly to the fertile and prosperous farming hinterland . Like several New Zealand urban areas , it was officially designated a city until an administrative reorganisation in 1989 , and is now run by a District Council . Although the city was called Wanganui from 1854 , in February 2009 , the New Zealand Geographic Board recommended the spelling be changed to Whanganui . In December 2009 , the government decided that while either spelling was acceptable , Crown agencies would use the Whanganui spelling . On 17 November 2015 , Land Information New Zealand ( LINZ ) announced that Wanganui District would be renamed to Whanganui District .
The Taranaki Rugby Football Union is a governing body of rugby union in the New Zealand province of Taranaki . The main stadium is Yarrow Stadium which is located in New Plymouth . The union also represents the Taranaki Bulls , a professional rugby union team competing in the Mitre 10 Cup competition and contest for the Ranfurly Shield . Before 2006 the Bulls competed in the National Provincial Championship . On 25 October 2014 Taranaki won their first ITM Cup , defeating Tasman 36-32 in New Plymouth . This was the first time a team from outside the main population centres had won the premier New Zealand domestic rugby competition since Manawatu in 1980 . Taranaki has won the NPC second division more than any other Union in New Zealand , a record that the club will keep now the NPC is defunct . Taranaki also plays for the Ryan Wheeler memorial trophy , a trophy played for annually with the Waikato Rugby Union . In 2013 , Taranaki changed the Super Rugby allegiance to the Chiefs , after severing ties with the Hurricanes , which it had been part of since 1996 .
New Plymouth ( Māori : Ngāmotu ) is the major city of the Taranaki Region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand . It is named after the English city of Plymouth from where the first English settlers to New Zealand migrated . The New Plymouth District , which includes New Plymouth City and several smaller towns , is the 10th largest district ( out of 67 ) in New Zealand , and has a population of 74,184 - about two-thirds of the total population of the Taranaki Region and 1.7% of New Zealand 's population . This includes New Plymouth City ( 58,300 ) , Waitara ( 6,483 ) , Inglewood ( 3,380 ) , Oakura ( 1,359 ) , Okato ( 561 ) and Urenui ( 429 ) . The city itself is a service centre for the region 's principal economic activities including intensive pastoral activities ( mainly dairy farming ) as well as oil , natural gas and petrochemical exploration and production . It is also the region 's financial centre as the home of the TSB Bank ( formerly the Taranaki Savings Bank ) , the largest of the remaining non-government New Zealand-owned banks . Notable features are the botanic gardens ( i.e . Pukekura Park ) , the critically acclaimed Len Lye Centre and Art Gallery , the 11 km ( 6.8 mi ) Coastal Walkway alongside the Tasman Sea , the Len Lye-designed 45-metre-tall ( 148 ft ) artwork known as the Wind Wand , Paritutu Rock , and views of Mount Taranaki/Egmont . As described under awards , New Plymouth won multiple awards in 2008 . The city was in 2010 chosen as one of two walking & cycling Model Communities by the government . Based on New Plymouth 's already positive attitude towards cyclists and pedestrians , the city received $ 3.71m to invest into infrastructure and community programs to boost walking and cycling . It is also noted for being a coastal city with a mountain within 30 minutes drive , where residents and visitors to New Plymouth can snowboard , ski , water ski and surf all in the same day .