Regal and viceregal
Head of State - George V
Governor - The Earl of Liverpool Until 28 June
Governor-General - The Earl of Liverpool from 28 June
The 19th New Zealand Parliament continued as a grand coalition led by the Reform Party. The General Election which was due this year was deferred due to the war.
Speaker of the House - Frederic Lang (Reform Party)
Prime Minister - William Massey (Reform Party)
Minister of Finance - Joseph Ward
Leader of the Opposition - Joseph Ward (Liberal Party) Ward retained that title even though he was part of the coalition government.
Main centre leaders
Mayor of Auckland – James Gunson
Mayor of Hamilton – John Robert Fow then John William Ellis
Mayor of Wellington – John Luke
Mayor of Christchurch – Henry Holland
Mayor of Dunedin – TBD
The West Coast Times is merged into the Hokitika Guardian and Star. The newspaper started in 1865.
April: The first Caudron biplane purchased by Henry Wigram for the Canterbury Aviation Company arrives.
1 May: The New Zealand Rifle Brigade (Earl of Liverpool's Own) is formed as the 3rd Brigade of the New Zealand Division, part of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force.
7 May: Cecil McKenzie Hill makes the first flight for the Canterbury Aviation Company.
June: Pilot training by the Canterbury Aviation Company commences at Sockburn.
24 September: Ten New Zealand soldiers killed in England in Bere Ferrers rail accident.
20 October: 850 New Zealand soldiers killed in the Second Battle of Passchendaele, the greatest loss of life in a single day in the Military history of New Zealand.
December: Six o’clock closing of hotel bars introduced as a wartime measure, see Six o'clock swill.
Arts and literature
See 1917 in art, 1917 in literature, Category:1917 books
See: 1917 in music
See: Category:1917 film awards, 1917 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, Category:1917 films
The New Zealand Open championship and National Amateur Championships were not held due to the war.
New Zealand Trotting Cup: Adelaide Direct
Auckland Trotting Cup: Steel Bell (2nd win)
The Ranfurly Shield (held by Wellington) is not contested as interprovincial matches are cancelled due to the war.
Provincial league champions:
Auckland: Brotherhood
Canterbury: Linwood
Hawke's Bay: Waipukurau
Otago: Northern
Southland: No competition
Wanganui: No competition
Wellington: No competition
