Regal and viceregal
Head of State — Queen Victoria
Governor — The Marquess of Normanby
Government and law
The 6th New Zealand Parliament continues.
Speaker of the House — Sir William Fitzherbet
Premier — Harry Atkinson is defeated as Premier on 13 October and is replaced by Sir George Grey
Minister of Finance — When Harry Atkinson is defeated as Premier on 13 October he also loses the position of Treasurer (Minister of Finance). On 15 October William Larnach is chosen as his replacement.
Chief Justice — Hon Sir James Prendergast
Main centre leaders
Mayor of Auckland City — William Hurst followed by Henry Brett
Mayor of Christchurch — Fred Hobbs followed by James Gapes
Mayor of Dunedin — Charles Stephen Reeves followed by Richard Henry Leary
Mayor of Wellington — William Hutchison
The Treaty of Waitangi ruled a "simply nullity" in "Wi Parata v the Bishop of Wellington"
The Auckland Amateur Athletic Club is formed.
The Canterbury Cricket Association is formed.
An England XI under the leadership of James Lillywhite tours in January and February. None of the fixtures were first class, and all the home sides field teams of between 18 and 22 players. The team went on to Australia to play the first ever Test matches. Itinerary
New Zealand Cup winner: Mata
New Zealand Derby winner: Trump Card
Auckland Cup winner: Lara
Wellington Cup winner: Guy Fawkes
see also Category:Horse races in New Zealand.
The following rugby clubs were formed: Athletic (Wellington), Waverley, Merivale, Leeston, Southbridge, Rakaia, and Otago University.
Ballinger Belt: Lieutenant Paynter (Nelson)
ca. October: Te Rangi Hīroa (Peter Buck), Māori leader.
(in England): Thomas Otto Bishop, politician.
Arthur Stallworthy, politician.
5 January: Sir Donald McLean, politician.
