Most New Zealanders became New Zealand citizens in addition to being British subjects, as the British Nationality and New Zealand Citizenship Act 1948 came into effect.
The National government of Sydney Holland was elected in the New Zealand general election, 1949.
Estimated population as of 31 December: 1,892,100
Increase since 31/12/1948: 38,200 (2.06%)
Males per 100 females: 100.7
Regal and viceregal
Head of State - George VI
Governor-General - Lieutenant-General The Lord Freyberg VC GCMG KCB KBE DSO
The 28th New Zealand Parliament continued. Government was the Labour until after the November general election, which saw it replaced by National Party.
Iriaka Ratana (Labour) is the first Māori woman elected to Parliament.
Speaker of the House - Robert McKeen
Prime Minister - Peter Fraser then Sidney Holland
Deputy Prime Minister - Keith Holyoake (from 13 December)
Minister of Finance - Walter Nash then Sidney Holland
Minister of Foreign Affairs - Peter Fraser then Frederick Doidge
Attorney-General - Rex Mason then Clifton Webb
Leader of the Opposition - Sidney Holland (National Party) until 13 December, then Peter Fraser (Labour).
Main centre leaders
Mayor of Auckland - John Allum
Mayor of Hamilton - Harold David Caro
Mayor of Wellington - Will Appleton
Mayor of Christchurch - Ernest Andrews
Mayor of Dunedin - Donald Cameron
1 January: the status of New Zealand Citizen comes into existence.
9 March: Referendums on gambling (passed) and extending hotel hours (failed).
3 August: Referendum on military training (passed)
29 November: Elections to the four Māori seats
30 November: General election won by National Party under Sidney Holland
Arts and literature
See 1949 in art, 1949 in literature, Category:1949 books
See: 1949 in music
See: Public broadcasting in New Zealand
See: Category:1949 film awards, 1949 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, Category:1949 films
National Champions
Open Men - W. Burton (Gisborne)
Open Women - D. Johnstone (Dunedin)
George Bromley wins his second national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:40:05.6 in Christchurch.
Interpovincial Champions: Men - Wellington
Interpovincial Champions: Women - Palmerston North
The 56th National Chess Championship was held in Wanganui, and was won by A.E. Nield of Auckland.
New Zealand Trotting Cup: Loyal Nurse
Auckland Trotting Cup: Captain Sandy - 2nd win
The New Zealand horse Foxzami wins the 1949 Melbourne Cup, ridden by W Fellows
Category:Rugby union in New Zealand, Category:All Blacks
Ranfurly Shield
New Zealand national rugby league team
The Chatham Cup is won by Petone who beat Northern 1—0 in the final.
Provincial league champions: Auckland: Eden
Canterbury: Technical OB
Hawke's Bay: Napier HSOB
Nelson:
Otago: Northern
South Canterbury: Northern Hearts
Southland: Brigadiers
Taranaki: City
Waikato: Rotowaro
Wanganui: Wanganui Athletic
Wellington: Seatoun
22 January: Cilla McQueen, poet
24 January: Bill Bush, rugby player
28 January: Mike Moore, Prime Minister and Director-General of the World Trade Organization
15 February: Ashraf Choudhary, politician
19 February: Brenda Matthews, sprinter
28 April: Steve Gilpin, musician (d. 1992)
20 September: Alan McIntyre, field hockey player
10 October: Lance Cairns, cricketer
2 November: Bruce Biddle, road cyclist
29 November (in England): Dave Bright, soccer player
Laurence Aberhart, photographer
Laurence Clark, cartoonist
John Hanlon, musician
Donna Awatere Huata, politician
Nigel Brown, painter
Ian Ewen-Street, politician
Category:1949 births
7 October: Matiu Ratana, politician and Ratana church leader
29 October: Patrick Harvey, rugby union player
28 December: Jack Lovelock, athlete
Category:1949 deaths
