Estimated population as of 31 December: 1,618,500 Increase since 31/12/1937: 16,500 (1.03%)Males per 100 females: 103.2Regal and viceregal
Head of State - George VIGovernor-General - The Viscount Galway GCMG DSO OBE PC The 25th New Zealand Parliament continues with the Labour Party in government. The general election in October results in the Labour government being returned for the 26th New Zealand Parliament.
Speaker of the House - Bill Barnard (Labour Party)Prime Minister - Michael Joseph SavageMinister of Finance - Walter NashMinister of Foreign Affairs - Michael Joseph SavageAttorney-General - Rex MasonLeader of the Opposition - Adam Hamilton (National Party).Main centre leaders
Mayor of Auckland - Ernest DavisMayor of Hamilton - John Robert Fow then Harold David CaroMayor of Wellington - Thomas HislopMayor of Christchurch - John Beanland then Robert M. MacfarlaneMayor of Dunedin - Edwin Thomas Cox then Andrew Henson Allen19 February: 21 people working on the Wairoa-Gisborne railway are drowned when a flash flood hits a works camp at Kopuawhara near Mahia.The Times, formerly The Gisborne Times, is purchased by its opposition, The Poverty Bay Herald, which the following year becomes The Gisborne Herald.Arts and literature
See 1938 in art, 1938 in literature, Category:1938 books
See: 1938 in music
See: Public broadcasting in New Zealand
New Zealand Review no.5, Mountain Holiday, [1]See: Category:1938 film awards, 1938 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, Category:1938 films
An interprovincial championship is held even though there is no national association at this time.
Interpovincial Champions - Men: OtagoThe 47th National Chess Championship was held in Dunedin, and was won by S. Hindin of Christchurch.The 28th New Zealand Open championship was won by A.D. Locke.The 42nd National Amateur Championships were held in Otago Men: JP.G.F. Smith (Akarana)Women - matchplay: Miss S. CollinsWomen - strokeplay: Mrs R. Fullerton-SmithNew Zealand Trotting Cup: Morello Auckland Trotting Cup: Navy Blue Category:Rugby union in New Zealand, Category:All Blacks
Ranfurly ShieldNew Zealand national rugby league team
The Chatham Cup is won by Waterside who beat Mosgiel 4—0 in the final.Provincial league champions: Auckland: North Shore UnitedCanterbury: NomadsHawke's Bay: Napier UnitedNelson: YMCAOtago: MosgielSouth Canterbury: NorthernSouthland: Invercargill ThistleTaranaki: WaitaraWaikato: Hamilton WanderersWanganui: MaristWellington: Waterside21 January: Jim Anderton, politician.11 February: Bevan Congdon, cricketer.24 February: Murray Hudson, soldier, winner of the George Cross.26 May: Pauline Parker, convicted murderer.12 July: Stanley Meads, rugby player.24 July: John Sparling, cricketer.29 July: Millie Khan, lawn bowler.28 October (in England): Juliet Hulme, convicted murderer.15 November: Peter Sinclair, radio and television host.24 November: Wynne Bradburn, cricketer.1 December: Bill Playle, cricketer.2 December, Jonathan Hunt, politician and diplomat.17 December: Peter Snell, athlete.Colin Beyer, lawyer and businessman.Ian Lawrence, mayor of Wellington.10 February: Sir Frederic Truby King, director of child welfareAlfred Brandon, Mayor of Wellington.James Whyte Kelly, politician. 