1871 in New Zealand

Updated on Nov 10, 2023

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Decades: 1850s 1860s 1870s 1880s 1890s See also: Other events of 1871 Timeline of New Zealand history

Regal and viceregal

Head of State — Queen Victoria

Governor — Sir George Ferguson Bowen

Government and law

The 1871 election takes place between 14 January and 1 February. The 5th New Zealand Parliament commences.

1 February — Māori elections are held for the first time in conjunction with a general election, although the first Māori MPs had been elected in 1868.

Speaker of the House — After the election Sir Francis Dillon Bell becomes Speaker replacing Sir David Monro who stood down at the end of 1870.

Premier — William Fox

Minister of Finance — Julius Vogel

Chief Justice — Hon Sir George Arney

Main centre leaders

Mayor of Auckland — Philip Philips

Mayor of Christchurch — Andrew Duncan followed by James Jameson

Mayor of Dunedin — Thomas Birch followed by Henry Fish

Mayor of Wellington — Joseph Dransfield

Events

1 February: The Daily Telegraph begins publishing in Napier. It continues until 1999, when it merges with The Hawke's Bay Herald Tribune to form Hawke's Bay Today.

5 July: New Zealand's first university, Otago opens its doors. It was absorbed into the University of New Zealand three years later.

The Westport News begins publication. The newspaper continues to publish Monday-Friday.

Athletics

The first amateur club is formed, in South Canterbury. Professional athletics is already well established.

Major race winners

New Zealand Cup: Peeress

New Zealand Derby: Defamation

Rugby union

12 May: Founding of the Wellington Rugby club, the second rugby union club in New Zealand.

Shooting

Ballinger Belt: Captain Wales (Otago)

Births

10 January: Hoeroa Tiopira, rugby union player

References

1871 in New Zealand Wikipedia

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