The population of New Zealand reaches 2 million.
Estimated population as of 31 December: 2,024,600
Increase since 31 December 1951: 54,100 (2.75%)
Males per 100 females: 101.1
Regal and viceregal
Head of State - George VI followed by Elizabeth II
Governor-General - Lieutenant-General The Lord Freyberg
The 30th New Zealand Parliament continued. In power was the National government under Sidney Holland.
Speaker of the House - Mathew Oram
Prime Minister - Sidney Holland
Deputy Prime Minister - Keith Holyoake
Minister of Finance - Sidney Holland
Minister of Foreign Affairs - Clifton Webb
Leader of the Opposition - Walter Nash (Labour).
Main centre leaders
Mayor of Auckland - John Allum
Mayor of Hamilton - Harold David Caro
Mayor of Wellington - Robert Macalister
Mayor of Christchurch - Robert Macfarlane
Mayor of Dunedin - Leonard Morton Wright
Arts and literature
See 1952 in art, 1952 in literature, Category:1952 books
See: 1952 in music
See: Public broadcasting in New Zealand
Broken Barrier
See: Category:1952 film awards, 1952 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, Category:1952 films
Jack Clarke wins his second national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:38:42 on 1 March in Wanganui.
The 59th National Chess Championship was held in Napier, and was won by Ortvin Sarapu of Christchurch (his first title).
Various Tours, New Zealand cricket team
New Zealand Trotting Cup: Mobile Globe
Auckland Trotting Cup: Soangetaha - 2nd win
New Zealand at the 1952 Summer Olympics
New Zealand at the 1952 Winter Olympics (the first team sent to the Winter Olympics).
The Chatham Cup was shared by the finalists North Shore United and Western (Christchurch) after the extra time score (1-1) and all criteria for deciding a winner at that time were equal.
The national men's soccer team toured to the Pacific, playing 10 matches, 5 of which were internationals:31 August, Suva: NZ 1 - 0 Suva
3 September, Suva: NZ 8 - 3 Southern Districts
7 September, Suva: NZ 2 - 0 Fiji
9 September, Lautoka: NZ 0 - 0 Lautoka
11 September, Lautoka: NZ 5 - 0 Northern Districts
14 September, Lautoka: NZ 9 - 0 Fiji
16 September, Suva: NZ 5 - 2 Fiji
21 September, Papeete: NZ 2 - 2 Tahiti
25 September, Fautaua: NZ 7 - 1 Chinese Selection
28 September, Papeete NZ 5 - 3 Tahiti
Provincial league champions:Auckland: Eastern Suburbs AFC
Canterbury: Technical OB
Hawke's Bay: West End
Manawatu: Palmerston North United
Nelson: Settlers
Northland: Otangarei United
Otago: Northern AFC
Poverty Bay: Thistle
South Canterbury: Thistle
Southland: Brigadiers
Taranaki: Overseas
Waikato: Pukemiro Junction
Wairarapa: Masterton B
Wanganui: Technical College Old Boys
Wellington: Petone
12 January: John Walker, athlete.
4 February: Jenny Shipley future Prime Minister.
14 February: Les Wilson, field hockey goalkeeper.
19 March: Warren Lees, cricket player and coach.
22 March: Rod Millen, motor rally driver.
21 June: Jeremy Coney, cricket captain.
25 June: Tim Finn, singer, songwriter and musician.
20 July: Ian Ferguson, kayaker.
8 August: Sandra Lee-Vercoe, politician and diplomat.
2 September: Chris Knox, singer-songwriter.
8 September: Graham Mourie, rugby player.
14 September: Neil McLeod, field hockey player.
3 October: Gary Troup, cricketer.
20 October: Michael Houstoun, concert pianist.
John Badcock, painter.
Sue Bradford, politician.
Stevan Eldred-Grigg, writer and historian.
(in England): David Fletcher, cartoonist.
Tame Iti, activist.
Sukhi Turner, Mayor of Dunedin.
Marilyn Waring, feminist academic and politician.
29 April: Adam Hamilton, politician.
1 May: Hon. Thomas Otto Bishop MLC, politician.
6 May: Sir Oswald Birley, painter.
13 August: Frederick de Jersey Clere, architect.
20 August: Lionel Terry, convicted murderer, white supremacist.
12 October: Te Puea Herangi, Māori leader.
17 November: Ben Roberts, New Zealand Labour MP
22 November: Ted Morgan, New Zealand boxer.
27 November: Bill Parry, politician.
John Robertson, politician.
