1956 in New Zealand

The following lists events that happened during 1956 in New Zealand. == Population == Estimated population as of 31 December: 2,209,200. Increase since 31 December 1955: 44,400 (2.05%). Males per 100 females: 101.2. == Incumbents == === Regal and viceregal === Head of State – Elizabeth II Governor-General – Lieutenant-General The Lord Norrie GCMG GCVO CB DSO MC. === Government === The 31st 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 – Jack Watts. Minister of Foreign Affairs – Tom Macdonald. Attorney-General – Jack Marshall. Chief Justice — Sir Harold Barrowclough === Parliamentary opposition === Leader of the Opposition – Walter Nash (Labour). === Main centre leaders === Mayor of Auckland – John Luxford, followed by Thomas Ashby Mayor of Hamilton – Roderick Braithwaite Mayor of Wellington – Robert Macalister, followed by Frank Kitts Mayor of Christchurch – Robert M. Macfarlane Mayor of Dunedin – Leonard Morton Wright == Events == 8 March: Opo the friendly Dolphin dies in the Hokianga. 13 March – After 26 years playing international cricket the New Zealand wins its first ever test victory against the West Indies at Eden Park. New Zealand troops are sent to Malaya. Roxburgh Dam is opened. Temperzone manufacturing is founded. == Arts and literature == See 1956 in art, 1956 in literature === Music === See: 1956 in music === Radio === See: Public broadcasting in New Zealand 1 October – Radio station 4ZA launches in Invercargill on 820 kHz, supplementing station 4YZ. === Film === See: Category:1956 film awards, 1956 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, Category:1956 films == Sport == === Athletics === Albert Richards wins his first national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:31:46 in Christchurch. === Chess === The 63rd National Chess Championship was held in Dunedin, and was won by F.A. Foulds of Auckland. === Horse racing === ==== Harness racing ==== New Zealand Trotting Cup – Thunder Auckland Trotting Cup – Unite === Lawn bowls === The national outdoor lawn bowls championships are held in Dunedin. Men's singles champion – G.G. Littlejohn (Hutt Bowling Club) Men's pair champions – L.J. Hughes, E.H. Ravenwood (skip) (North-East Valley Bowling Club) Men's fours champions – P.C.F. Barrat, C.E. Tomlinson, L.J. Buckingham, Robbie Robson (skip) (Mangakino Bowling Club) === Olympic Games === ==== Summer Olympics ==== ==== Winter Olympics ==== New Zealand did not participate in the 1956 Winter Olympics. === Soccer === The Chatham Cup is won by Stop Out (Lower Hutt) who beat Shamrock (soccer) of Christchurch 4–1 in the final. Provincial league champions: Auckland: Onehunga Bay of Plenty: Rangers Buller: Millerton Thistle Canterbury: Western Hawke's Bay: Napier Athletic Manawatu: Kiwi United Marlborough: Blenheim B Nelson: Settlers Northland: Kamo Swifts Otago: Northern Poverty Bay: Eastern Union South Canterbury: West End Southland: Brigadiers Taranaki: Moturoa Waikato: Huntly Thistle Wairarapa: No competition Wanganui: Technical College Old Boys Wellington: Stop Out == Births == 3 January: Judith Tizard, politician 6 January: Stephen Cox, cyclist 16 January: Mark Burton, politician 4 February: Gerry Brownlee, politician 16 February: Vincent Ward, film director 1 March: Mark Todd, equestrian eventer 3 March: John F. Reid, cricketer 13 April: Peter 'Possum' Bourne, rally driver 17 April: Jaynie Parkhouse, freestyle swimmer 26 April: Tinks Pottinger, equestrian eventer 8 May: Richard Wilson, soccer player 10 May: Chris Kuggeleijn, cricket player and coach 23 May: Mark Shaw, rugby union footballer and selector 18 August: Andrew Bennie, equestrian eventer 29 September: Jenny Morris, singer 8 November: Richard Curtis, screenwriter 23 November: Bruce Edgar, cricketer 12 December: Barry Pickering, soccer player 16 December: Rodney Hide, politician Chris Finlayson, politician James Belich, historian (in Paris, France) Christopher Marshall, composer Douglas Wright, dancer and choreographer == Deaths == 17 April: Sir Alexander Young, politician. 22 May: John Christopher Rolleston, politician. 29 May: Charlie Seeling, rugby footballer. 17 June: Charles Boswell, politician. 19 June: Bernard Martin, politician. 12 September: George Gillett, rugby player. 21 November: Jim Thorn, labour leader and politician. == References == == See also == List of years in New Zealand Timeline of New Zealand history History of New Zealand Military history of New Zealand Timeline of the New Zealand environment Timeline of New Zealand's links with Antarctica