Estimated population as of 31 December: 1,641,600
Increase since 31/12/1938: 23,300 (1.44%)
Males per 100 females: 103.0
Regal and viceregal
Head of state - George VI
Governor-General - The Viscount Galway GCMG DSO OBE PC
The 26th New Zealand Parliament continued with the Labour Party in government.
Speaker of the House - Bill Barnard (Labour Party)
Prime Minister - Michael Joseph Savage
Minister of Finance - Walter Nash
Minister of Foreign Affairs - Michael Joseph Savage
Attorney-General - Rex Mason
Leader of the Opposition - Adam Hamilton (National Party).
Main centre leaders
Mayor of Auckland - Ernest Davis
Mayor of Hamilton - Harold David Caro
Mayor of Wellington - Thomas Hislop
Mayor of Christchurch - Robert Macfarlane
Mayor of Dunedin - Andrew Henson Allen
29 January: (Sunday) Opening of St Peter's College, Auckland by Bishop J M Liston.
3 September: New Zealand declares war on Germany
31 October: The Strongman coal mine in Nine Mile Valley near Greymouth is officially opened by Minister of Mines, Paddy Webb.
13 December: New Zealand warship HMS Achilles fought in the Battle of the River Plate against German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee.
17 December: The Graf Spee is scuttled off Montevideo harbour.
The Poverty Bay Herald changes its name to The Gisborne Herald, which continues to publish today.
Arts and literature
See 1939 in art, 1939 in literature, Category:1939 books
See: 1939 in music
See: Public broadcasting in New Zealand
See: Category:1939 film awards, 1939 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, Category:1939 films
Clarrie Gibbons wins the national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:44:56.2 on 11 March 1939 in Napier.
A second interprovincial championship is held even though there is still no national association. (see 1938 and 1946)
Interpovincial Champions: Men - Wellington
The 48th National Chess Championship was held in Wanganui, and was won by J.B. Dunlop of Dunedin (his 5th title).
New Zealand Trotting Cup:Lucky Jack - 2nd win
Auckland Trotting Cup: Marlene
Category:Rugby union in New Zealand, Category:All Blacks
Ranfurly Shield
New Zealand national rugby league team
The Chatham Cup is won by Waterside of Wellington who beat Western of Christchurch 4—2 in the final.
Provincial league champions: Auckland: Ponsonby AFC
Canterbury: Western
Hawke's Bay: Napier Utd
Nelson: YMCA
Otago: Mosgiel
South Canterbury: Old Boys
Southland: Mataura
Waikato: Rotowaro
Wanganui: Wanganui Athletic
Wellington: Petone Football Club
27 February: Don McKinnon, deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand and Commonwealth Secretary-General.
10 April (in England): Michael Cox, politician.
24 April: Fergie McCormick, rugby union player.
16 September: Tony Davies, rugby union player.
4 October: Ivan Mauger, motorcycle speedway champion.
29 October: Michael Smither, painter.
Peter Brown, politician.
Raymond Ching, painter.
Ken Comber, politician.
Syd Jackson, political activist.
Bob Jones, businessman.
Douglas Myers, businessman.
(in England): Dylan Taite, music journalist.
Philip Temple, writer.
David Walter, mayor of Stratford.
Hugh Williams, High court judge.
Category:1939 births
16 March: George Mitchell, soldier and politician
26 April: Ted Howard, politician.
26 July: Thomas William "Torpedo Billy" Murphy, boxer.
27 July: Malcolm Champion, swimmer.
23 August: Robin Hyde, writer.
David McLaren, politician.
T. W. Ratana, prophet.
Category:1939 deaths
