Estimated population as of 31 December: 2,074,700
Increase since 31 December 1952: 50,100 (2.47%)
Males per 100 females: 101.1
Regal and viceregal
Head of State – Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand, from 6 February 1952
Governor-General – Lieutenant-General The Lord Norrie GCMG GCVO CB DSO MC, from 1952-1957
The 30th New Zealand Parliament continued. The National Party was in its second term in office under Sidney Holland.
Speaker of the House – Matthew Oram from 1950 to 1957
Prime Minister – Sidney Holland from 13 December 1949 to 20 September 1957.
Deputy Prime Minister – Keith Holyoake from 13 December 1949 to 20 September 1957.
Minister of Finance – Sidney Holland
Minister of Foreign Affairs – Clifton Webb from 19 September 1951 to 26 November 1954
Leader of the Opposition – Walter Nash (Labour).
Main centre leaders
Mayor of Auckland – John Luxford from 1953–1956
Mayor of Hamilton – Harold David Caro (from 1938 until his defeat in November) then Roderick Braithwaite (until 1959)
Mayor of Wellington – Robert Macalister from 1950–1956
Mayor of Christchurch – Robert M. Macfarlane from 1938–1941 and again from 1950–1958
Mayor of Dunedin – Leonard Morton Wright from 1950–1959
6 January: Godfrey Bowen sets a world sheep shearing record, shearing 456 sheep in nine hours.
10 January: The Social Credit Political League is formed from the earlier Social Credit Association.
29 May – Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reach the summit of Mount Everest, the first known time this has been done. Hillary is knighted the following day.
2 June – Elizabeth II crowned at Westminster Abbey in London
23 December – The newly crowned Elizabeth II arrives in New Zealand for a royal tour scheduled to last until 30 January 1954. It is estimated that three in four New Zealanders would make an effort to see her during the tour.
24 December – a major rail disaster occurs at Tangiwai in the central North Island when a steam locomotive plunges into the Whangaehu River, killing 151 passengers on board.
Arts and literature
See 1953 in art, 1953 in literature, Category:1953 books
See: Public broadcasting in New Zealand
See: Category:1953 film awards, 1953 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, Category:1953 films
Arthur Lydiard wins his first national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:41:29.8 in Dunedin.
The 60th National Chess Championship was held in Timaru, and was won by Ortvin Sarapu of Auckland (his second title).
New Zealand Trotting Cup: Adorian
Auckland Trotting Cup: Thelma Globe
The Chatham Cup is won by Eastern Suburbs (of Auckland) who beat Northern (of Dunedin) 4-3 in the final.
Provincial league champions:Auckland: Eastern Suburbs AFC
Bay of Plenty: Mangakino Utd
Canterbury: Western
Hawke's Bay: Hastings Wanderers
Manawatu: Palmerston North United
Nelson: Woodbourne
Northland: Otangarei United
Otago: Northern AFC
Poverty Bay: Eastern Union
South Canterbury: Northern Hearts
Southland: Brigadiers, Thistle (shared)
Taranaki: City
Waikato: Huntly Thistle
Wairarapa: Carterton
Wanganui: New Settlers
Wellington: Wellington Marist
3 February: Steve Maharey, politician.
5 February: Deborah Coddington, journalist and politician.
17 February: Steve Millen, motor racing driver.
23 March: Denis Aberhart, cricket player and coach.
25 March: Paul Ballinger, long-distance runner
25 May: John Z. Robinson, artist, printmaker and jewelmaker.
14 June: Janet Mackey, politician.
22 June: Phil Goff, politician.
5 September: Murray Mexted, rugby player and commentator.
7 September: Marc Hunter, musician.
9 September: Edmond ("Sonny") Schmidt, bodybuilder.
12 September: Ramesh Patel, field hockey player.
6 November: Brian McKechnie, rugby player and cricketer.
19 December: Paul McEwan, cricketer.
Jonathan Dennis, film historian.
Bill Ralston, journalist
20 January: Benjamin Robbins MLC; Mayor of Hawera, Tauranga (born 1857)
29 July: Richard Pearse airplane pioneer (born 1877).
16 October: Humphrey O'Leary, 7th Chief Justice of New Zealand.
