Estimated population as of 31 December: 2,118,400
Increase since 31 December 1953: 43,700 (2.11%)
Males per 100 females: 101.2
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 expired this year. The National Party was elected to a third term in office under Sidney Holland on 13 November.
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 until November, followed by Jack Watts
Minister of Foreign Affairs – Clifton Webb from 19 September 1951 to 26 November 1954, followed by Tom Macdonald
Leader of the Opposition – Walter Nash (Labour).
Main centre leaders
Mayor of Auckland – John Luxford from 1953–1956
Mayor of Hamilton – Roderick Braithwaite from 1953–1959
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
12 January: 50,000 people mass in Wellington as Elizabeth II attends the state opening of Parliament.
30 January: The Royal tour by Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh concludes at Bluff as they depart on the SS Gothic
23 June – Teenagers Pauline Parker and Juliet Hulme are arrested for the murder of Parker's mother.
20 September – the Mazengarb Report on Moral Delinquency in Children and Adolescents is presented to Parliament.
8 November – eighteen-year-old golf amateur Bob Charles causes a sensation by beating a top international field to win the New Zealand Golf Open
13 November – the National Party wins re-election at a general election
Hastings becomes the first town in New Zealand to fluoridate its water supply.
Arts and literature
See 1954 in art, 1954 in literature, Category:1954 books
See: 1954 in music
January 2 – First radio episode of It's In the Bag, hosted by Selwyn Toogood
See: Public broadcasting in New Zealand
The Seekers (film)
See: Category:1954 film awards, 1954 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, Category:1954 films
20 February: Yvette Williams breaks the world long jump record by jumping 20 feet 7½ inches (6.28 metres) at Gisborne.
Edwin Rye wins his first national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:35:45 on 6 March in Hamilton, New Zealand.
The 61st National Chess Championship is held in Wellington, and is won by Ortvin Sarapu of Auckland (his third successive title).
New Zealand Trotting Cup: Johnny Globe
Auckland Trotting Cup: Caduceus
The All Blacks played four Test Matches on a tour of Europe:9 January, Lansdowne Road, Dublin: New Zealand 14 – 3 Ireland
30 January, Twickenham, London: New Zealand 5 – 0 England
13 February, Murrayfield, Edinburgh New Zealand 3 – 0 Scotland
27 February, Stade Colombes, Paris: New Zealand 0 – 3 France
The national men's team undertook a 10-match tour of Australia, which included 3 internationals. They played one warm-up match prior to the tour.31 July, Wellington: NZ 6 – 0 Wellington
3 August, Adelaide: NZ 3 – 2 South Australia
7 August, Adelaide: NZ 3 – 1 Australian XI
11 August, Melbourne: NZ 1 – 2 Victoria
14 August, Melbourne: NZ 2 – 1 Australia
18 August, Granville: NZ 0 – 3 Granville
21 August, Sydney: NZ 4 – 1 New South Wales Benge (2), Charlton, Olley
25 August, Brisbane: NZ 2 – 2 Queensland Smith, Steele
28 August, Brisbane: NZ 1 – 4 Australia'
29 August, Newcastle: NZ 1 – 1 Northern Districts Smith
4 September, Sydney: NZ 1 – 4 Australia
5 September, Bulli: NZ 4 – 4 South Coast
The Chatham Cup is won by Onehunga who beat Western of Christchurch 1—0 in the final.
Provincial league champions:Auckland: North Shore United
Bay of Plenty: Mangakino Utd
Buller: Millerton Thistle
Canterbury: Western
Hawke's Bay: Hastings Wanderers
Manawatu: Palmerston North United
Nelson: Settlers
Northland: Otangarei United
Otago: Northern
Poverty Bay: Eastern Union
South Canterbury: Northern Hearts
Southland: Brigadiers
Taranaki: Old Boys
Waikato: Huntly Thistle
Wanganui: New Settlers
Wellington: Stop Out
17 March: Peter Dunne, politician
30 April: Jane Campion, film director.
11 May: Murray Haszard, technology entrepreneur.
15 June: Larry Ross, motorcycle speedway rider.
17 June: Trevor Mallard, politician
5 July: John Wright, cricket player and coach
24 October: Tu Wyllie, politician
18 November: Evan Gray, cricketer
24 December: Graham Sligo, field hockey player
Category:1954 births
26 May: Frederick Doidge, former cabinet minister and New Zealand High Commissioner (London)
7 December: George William Smith, athlete, rugby union and league player.
John Buckland Wright, engraver.
Cyril Brownlie, rugby union player.
Charles E. Major, politician.
Arthur Stallworthy, politician.
Category:1954 deaths
