Regal and viceregal
Head of State — Queen Victoria
Governor — David Boyle, 7th Earl of Glasgow
Government and law
The 12th New Zealand Parliament continues with the Liberal Party in power.
Speaker of the House — Sir Maurice O'Rorke becomes Speaker for the second time, replacing William Steward
Prime Minister — Richard Seddon
Minister of Finance — Joseph Ward
Chief Justice — Hon Sir James Prendergast
Leader of the Opposition — William Russell.
Main centre leaders
Mayor of Auckland — James Holland
Mayor of Christchurch — Eden George followed by Thomas Gapes
Mayor of Dunedin — Henry Fish
Mayor of Wellington — Alfred Brandon
30 October: Luxury steamer SS Wairarapa, carrying 230 passengers from Sydney bound for Auckland, is wrecked on Great Barrier Island with the loss of 135 lives.
Undated
American balloonist Leila Adair tours New Zealand. She is possibly the first woman to fly in New Zealand.
Leonard Cuff is appointed a Founding Member of the International Olympic Committee. He remains the member for both New Zealand and Australia until 1905.
National Champions, Men
100 yards — Jack Hempton (Wellington)
250 yards — H. Reeves (Canterbury)
440 yards — W. Low (Otago)
880 yards — W. Low (Otago)
1 mile — C. Morpeth (Otago)
3 miles — C. Morpeth (Otago)
120 yards hurdles — Harold Batger (Wellington)
440 yards hurdles — Harold Batger (Wellington)
Long jump — Wallingford Mendelson (South Canterbury)
High jump — H. Bailey (Wellington)
Pole vault –H. Kingsley (Wanganui)
Shot put — O. McCormack (Wellington)
Hammer throw — O. McCormack (Wellington)
National Champion: J. Edwards, of Wellington.
The 2nd National Amateur Championships were held in Christchurch Men: H. Macneil (Otago)
Women : Mrs C. Wilder
Auckland Trotting Cup (over 3 miles) is won by Tom Hicks
New Zealand Cup — Impulse
New Zealand Derby — Blue Fire
Auckland Cup — Lottie
Wellington Cup — Vogengang
Top New Zealand stakes earner — Blue Fire
Leading flat jockey — J. Connop
The pairs championship is held for the first time. National Champions
Singles — T. Sneddon (Kaituna)
Pairs — T. Sneddon and H. Reid (skip) (Kaituna)
Fours — J. Davidson, A. Owen, J. Wedderspoon and J. Evans (skip) (Caledonian)
Savile Cup winners — Rangitikei
National Champions (Men)
Single sculls — M. Keefe (Auckland)
Double sculls — Union, Christchurch
Coxless pairs — Union, Christchurch
Coxed fours — Lyttelton
Provincial club rugby champions include:
Ballinger Belt — Captain E. Smith (Dunedin City Guards)
Provincial Champions:
Auckland: Alliance United
Wellington: Wellington Rovers
Otago: Roslyn Dunedin
National Champions (Men)
100 yards frestyle — T. Needham (New South Wales, Australia)
220 yards frestyle — W. Gormley (New South Wales, Australia)
440 yards frestyle — W. Gormley (New South Wales, Australia)
880 yards frestyle — W. Gormley (New South Wales, Australia)
National championships
Men's singles — M. Fenwicke
Women's singles — M. Spiers
Men's doubles — J. Marshall and P. Marshall
Women's doubles — P. Chapman and M. Nicholson
2 February – Rongowhakaata Pere Halbert, Māori leader, historian, interpreter, genealogist
24 February – Victor Spencer, soldier executed in World War I, pardoned in 2000
1 June – Paraire Karaka Paikea, politician
21 July – Toko Rātana, Rātana church leader and politician
13 August: - Fintan Patrick Walsh, trade unionist.
5 June – Vincent Pyke, politician
