There are celebrations throughout the country this year as New Zealand changes from colony to independent dominion status by proclamation of Edward VII on 26 September. In Wellington on 11 December there is a great sensation when the tinder-dry Parliament buildings burn to the ground.
Regal and viceregal
Head of State - Edward VII
Governor - The Lord Plunket GCMG KCVO
The 16th New Zealand Parliament
Speaker of the House - Sir Arthur Guinness
Prime Minister - Joseph Ward
Minister of Finance - Joseph Ward
Attorney-General - John Findlay
Leader of the Opposition - William Massey, (Independent).
Main centre leaders
Mayor of Auckland - Arthur Myers
Mayor of Wellington - Thomas Hislop
Mayor of Christchurch - John Hall followed by George Payling
Mayor of Dunedin - John Loudon
The Tohunga Suppression Act is passed by parliament, sponsored by Māui Pōmare.
Rua Kenana, a self-proclaimed prophet, establishes a religious community at the foot of Maungapōhatu, the sacred Tūhoe mountain in the Ureweras.
The Colonial Secretary’s Office is renamed the Department of Internal Affairs.
St Paul's Church in Dunedin is consecrated by Bishop Churchill Julius.
Highest ever recorded flooding along the Taupo, Tongariro, Waipa, and Waikato river systems.
Prime Minister Joseph Ward is appointed to the Privy Council.
James Mills, a prominent businessman, ship-owner and politician becomes the first person born in New Zealand to be knighted (Knight Bachelor).
Dr Sir Frederick Truby King establishes the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children which later becomes The Royal New Zealand Plunket Society, known simply as Plunket. The society establishes Plunket Rooms throughout the country and provides specially trained nurses to advise and assist New Zealand mothers free of charge.
The first Home of Compassion is opened, at Island Bay in Wellington, by Mother Suzanne Aubert who had founded the congregation of the Sisters of Compassion in Jerusalem on the Whanganui River in 1892.
The country's first dental school opens at Otago University. The first dean is Sir Henry Percy Pickerill, a pioneer of reconstructive surgery of the jaw and face.
Arts and literature
The School Journal, an education resource distributed to schools throughout New Zealand, is introduced.
Frances Hodgkins holds her first solo exhibition, in London.
Publishing firm A.H. & A.W. Reed is established in Dunedin.
The House of Royal Doulton produces Kia Ora, a ceramic series of New Zealand themes, which become a collectors' item.
Thames astronomer John Grigg discovers his third comet, all of which are named after him.
Pioneer aircraft designer Richard Pearse finally patents details for his wings and aircraft controls.
Flora and fauna
The now extinct huia bird which was endemic to New Zealand, is last seen in the Tararua Ranges on 28 December.
Full protection is promulgated for the tui, kākā, paradise duck and oystercatcher.
Chamois deer, six does and two bucks from Neuberg in Austria, are introduced to the country and released in the Aoraki/Mount Cook area as a hunting resource.
This is the peak year in the country's history for milling for export of the rapidly disappearing native kauri.
26 September: The first issue of The Dominion newspaper (now the Dominion Post) is published in Wellington to mark the occasion of New Zealand becoming a Dominion.
After 36 years of publication, the authoritative weekly paper, the New Zealand Mail, closes.
December: The Maori II, a triple-screw steamer which is the first purpose-built, inter-island ferry in the country, makes its first run between Lyttelton and Wellington.
National amateur champions
Heavyweight - J. Lloyd (Christchurch)
Middleweight - J. Gilmour (Christchurch)
Lightweight - R. Mayze (Christchurch)
Featherweight - E. Sanderson (Auckland)
Bantamweight - B. Tracy (Wellington)
Inaugural year of Plunket Shield, won by Canterbury.
The MCC tour the country, losing to New Zealand at the Basin Reserve, but winning at Lancaster Park.
The 20th National Chess Championship was held in Christchurch, and was won by W.S. Viner of Perth (overseas players were allowed until 1934)
The first New Zealand Open championship is held at the Napier Golf Club at Waiohiki and is won by amateur Arthur Duncan.
The 15th National Amateur Championships were held in Napier Men: Arthur Duncan (Wellington) - 5th title
Women: Mrs G. Williams
The Challenge Shield is introduced.
New Zealand Trotting Cup: Marian
Auckland Trotting Cup: All Night
Apologue becomes the first New Zealand-owned horse to win the Melbourne Cup.
Auckland Cup - Zimmerman
Wellington Cup - Achilles
New Zealand Derby - Elevation
Women's basketball, now called Netball, is introduced to the country by J. C. Jamieson when a demonstration match between Eden and Epsom is played in an Auckland paddock.
The Collins Challenge Shield is introduced by the National Rifle Association.
William Webb of Wanganui defeats Australian Charles Towns on 3 August for the World Professional Sculling Championship, the first world rowing title won by New Zealand.
Auckland defend the Ranfurly Shield against Buller (21-0), Hawkes Bay (12-3) and Wanganui(6-5).
The All Blacks tour Australia, winning both tests. They also play Wellington.
A record crowd of 52,411 packs the Sydney Cricket Ground for the All Blacks v NSW match.
The All Golds New Zealand league team tours Britain, before a match has been played or a club has been formed in New Zealand.
Provincial league champions:
Auckland: Auckland Corinthians
Canterbury: Burnham Industrial School, Christchurch Celtic (shared)
Otago: Northern Dunedin
Southland: Nightcaps
Taranaki: New Plymouth
Wellington: Wellington Swifts
Anthony Wilding of New Zealand pairs with Australian Norman Brookes, as the Australasian team, to win the Davis Cup.
Anthony Wilding and Josiah Ritchie win the men's doubles at the Wimbledon Championship.
Kathleen Nunneley wins the last of her 13 successive national ladies singles titles.
18 September Alf Cleverley, Olympic boxer.
8 October: Stanley Whitehead, politician.
Denis Blundell, future Governor-General.
Thaddeus McCarthy, jurist.
19 April: Edward Metcalf Smith, politician.
25 June: John Hall - Premier 1879-81
William Henry Eyes, politician.
Tohu Kākahi, Māori leader and prophet at Parihaka
