Estimated population as of 31 December: 2,359,700
Increase since 31 December 1958: 43,700 (1.89%)
Males per 100 females: 101.0
Regal and viceregal
Head of State – Elizabeth II
Governor-General – The Viscount Cobham GCMG TD.
The 32nd New Zealand Parliament continued. In power was the Labour government led by Walter Nash.
Speaker of the House – Robert Macfarlane
Prime Minister – Walter Nash
Deputy Prime Minister – Clarence Skinner.
Minister of Finance – Arnold Nordmeyer.
Minister of Foreign Affairs – Walter Nash.
Attorney-General – Rex Mason.
Leader of the Opposition – Keith Holyoake (National).
Main centre leaders
Mayor of Auckland – Keith Buttle then Dove-Myer Robinson
Mayor of Hamilton – Roderick Braithwaite then Denis Rogers
Mayor of Wellington – Frank Kitts
Mayor of Christchurch – George Manning
Mayor of Dunedin – Leonard Morton Wright then Thomas Kay Stuart Sidey
30 May: The Auckland Harbour Bridge, 1020 meters (3,348 feet) in length, was opened.
24 November: The coastal trader MV Holmglen sinks near Timaru with the loss of 15 lives.
Arts and literature
Ian Cross wins the first Robert Burns Fellowship.
See 1959 in art, 1959 in literature, Category:1959 books
See: 1959 in music
See: Public broadcasting in New Zealand
See: Category:1959 film awards, 1959 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, Category:1959 films
Ray Puckett wins his second national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:27:28.2 on 7 March in Palmerston North.
The 66th National Chess Championship was held in Hamilton. The title was shared between F.A. Foulds and B.C. Menzies, both of Auckland.
New Zealand Trotting Cup: False Step – 2nd win
Auckland Trotting Cup: Scottish Command
The British Lions team toured New Zealand, losing the Test series 3-1. They also lost two of their 21 provincial games, to Canterbury and Otago.18 July, Carisbrook, Dunedin: New Zealand 18 – 17 British Isles
15 August, Athletic Park, Wellington: New Zealand 11 – 8 British Isles
29 August, Lancaster Park, Christchurch: New Zealand 22 – 8 British Isles
19 September, Eden Park, Auckland: New Zealand 6 – 9 British Isles
The national men's team played one match against a visiting Costa Rican club side:6 June, Auckland: NZ 3 – 2 Deportivo Saprissa
The Chatham Cup was won by Dunedin team Northern who beat North Shore United 3-2 in the final.
Provincial league champions:Auckland: North Shore United
Bay of Plenty: Kahukura
Buller: Denniston Hotspurs
Canterbury: Western
Hawke's Bay: Napier Athletic
Manawatu: Kiwi United
Marlborough: Woodbourne
Nelson: Rangers
Northland: Otangarei United
Otago: Northern AFC
Poverty Bay: Eastern Union
South Canterbury: West End
Southland: Rovers
Taranaki: Moturoa
Waikato: Hamilton Technical OB
Wairarapa: Douglas Villa
Wanganui: New Settlers
Wellington: Northern
13 April: Justin Boyle , cricketer.
8 May: Ingrid Jagersma, cricketer.
9 May: Andrew Jones , cricketer.
16 May: Greg Johnston, rower.
26 May: Brett Austin , breaststroke swimmer.
28 May: Eric Verdonk, rower.
4 September: Robbie Deans , rugby player and coach.
14 September: Brendon Bracewell , cricketer.
27 September: Mark Inglis , mountaineer.
3 November: Vaughan Brown , cricketer.
12 December: George Keys, rower.
Bianca van Rangelrooy , artist.
Harry Sinclair , actor, filmmaker and musician.
Category:1959 births
23 February: Gordon Wilson, Government architect.
8 April: Sir William Joseph Jordan, politician and diplomat.
7 November: Archie Fisher, painter.
8 November: Walter William Massey, MP and politician
6 December (in Scotland): Edward Hunter a.k.a. Billy Banjo, trade unionist, politician and writer.
Category:1959 deaths
