1861 in New Zealand
The following lists events that happened during 1861 in New Zealand. A ceasefire is reached in the First Taranaki War, with British efforts to defeat Māori disaffected over land purchases having largely failed. Prosperity comes to the south with the onset of the Central Otago Gold Rush. Within a year the population of the Tuapeka goldfields is twice that of Dunedin. Incumbents. Government and law. The general election of 1860–61 concludes on 28 March having begun on 12 December the previous year. The 3rd Parliament commences. Sport. Shooting. The first National Rifle Shooting Championships is held . This is the oldest national championships in New Zealand in any sport. The Championships are held in conjunction with various district contests until the first centralised Championships at Trentham in 1902. The winner receives the Championship Belt (and Pouch). In 1907 the belt is won outright by A. Ballinger and it is renamed the Ballinger Belt. This name has been applied retroactively to the Championship since its inception. Ballinger Belt: Lieutenant Brighton (Auckland)