Regal and viceregal
Head of State — Queen Victoria
Governor — Sir George Grey
Government and law
The 3rd Parliament continues.
Speaker of the House — David Monro
Premier — Edward Stafford becomes Premier on 16 October when Frederick Weld retires due to ill-health and stress.
Minister of Finance — Edward Stafford takes up the post on 31 October after William Fitzherbert loses the post when the Weld government ends on 16 October.
Chief Justice — Hon Sir George Arney
Main centre leaders
Mayor of Dunedin — William Mason
The Capital of New Zealand is moved from Auckland to Wellington.
The Marlborough Times ceases publication. It was founded in 1864.
February — The start of the West Coast Gold Rush with rumours of gold being found.
18 February: The Press in Christchurch starts publishing a magazine, The Weekly Press. The magazine ran until 1928.
May — The West Coast Times is founded. It began as a weekly newspaper and became a daily in January 1866. It ceased publishing in 1917.
4 June: The Evening Herald is founded in Wanganui. Around the turn of the 20th century, it changed its name to The Wanganui Herald, and continued to publish until 1986.
26 July: Parliament officially sits in Wellington for the first time, in the former Provincial Council chambers. (see also 1862)
30 August: The New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian publishes its last issue. It began in 1844.
November: The Grey River Argus begins publication in Greymouth. It published three times a week until becoming daily in 1871. The paper folded in 1966.
The race which becomes the New Zealand Cup in 1883, is run for the first time at Riccarton Racecourse.
New Zealand Cup: Rob Roy
New Zealand Derby: Egremont
The Star Boating Club is formed in Wellington. (other sources state 1867 )
Ballinger Belt: No competition
28 January: John Perry Robinson, Superintendent of Nelson Province
25 February: Hoani Wiremu Hipango, tribal leader, teacher and assessor
12 April: Thomas Halbert, whaler, trader and founding father
30 April (at Upper Norwood, England): Robert FitzRoy, second Governor of New Zealand (born 1805)
5 May (at sea off Blackwall, London): Samuel Brees, artist, surveyor and engineer
11 May: Thomas Antill, Australian cricketer and New Zealand bank manager (born 1830)
8 June: John Morgan, missionary (born 1806)
14 July: Nathaniel Burslem, recipient of the Victoria Cross (born 1837)
21 July: Frederick Merriman, politician (born 1818)
22 July: James Francis Fulloon, interpreter and public servant (born 1840)
9 November: George Kissling, Archdeacon of Waitemata (born 1805)
