1876 in New Zealand

The following lists events that happened during 1876 in New Zealand.

Regal and viceregal

 * Head of State – Queen Victoria
 * Governor – The Marquess of Normanby

Government and law
The 1875 general election, which started on 29 December, concludes on 4 January. The 6th New Zealand Parliament commences.

Premier Atkinson abolishes the New Zealand provincial system on 1 November.


 * Speaker of the House – Sir William Fitzherbet replaces Sir Francis Dillon Bell who did not stand for election at the end of 1875
 * Premier – Daniel Pollen resigns on 15 February. Julius Vogel takes over until retiring on 1 September and is in turn replaced by Harry Atkinson.
 * Minister of Finance – Julius Vogel takes over as Treasurer (Minister of Finance) from Harry Atkinson when he becomes Premier on 15 February. When Vogel retires on 1 September Atkinson resumes the position.
 * Chief Justice – Hon Sir James Prendergast

Main centre leaders

 * Mayor of Auckland City – Benjamin Tonks followed by William Hurst
 * Mayor of Christchurch – Fred Hobbs
 * Mayor of Dunedin – Keith Ramsay followed by Henry John Walter
 * Mayor of Wellington – William Hutchison

Events

 * 18 February: The first trans-Tasman submarine communications cable is completed, allowing telegraph communications with the rest of the world.
 * 4 April: Speight's is first brewed in Dunedin.
 * 30 December: The Daily Southern Cross publishes its last issue, and merges with The New Zealand Herald. The Auckland-based newspaper began publishing as The Southern Cross in 1843.

Cricket
The Otago Cricket Association is formed.

Major race winners

 * New Zealand Cup – Guy Fawkes
 * New Zealand Derby – Songster
 * Auckland Cup – Ariel
 * Wellington Cup – Korari

Lawn bowls
The first interclub competition in the country is held between the Dunedin and Fernhill clubs.

Rugby union

 * Rugby clubs were founded in Marton, Bulls, and Sanson, Oamaru, Hawera, Patea, Invercargill, Otautau, Riverton, Greytown, Masterton, Rangiora, Waimate, Kaiapoi and Te Awamutu.
 * A combined side from Canterbury toured Nelson, Wellington (at Lower Hutt), and Auckland (at Ellerslie)

Shooting
Ballinger Belt – Private J. Willocks (Clutha)

Births

 * 21 January: Tom Cross, rugby union and rugby league player.
 * 24 February: Ernie Booth, rugby union player.
 * 23 March: Sally Low, social reformer and peace campaigner.
 * 6 April: Harold Williams, linguist.
 * 11 April Michael Reardon, political activist
 * 7 June: Albert Samuel, politician

Deaths

 * 26 August: Henry Balneavis, soldier
 * 22 November: Charles Flinders Hursthouse, author and settler.