1881 in New Zealand

The following lists events that happened during 1881 in New Zealand.

Regal and viceregal

 * Head of State – Queen Victoria
 * Governor – The Hon. Sir Arthur Hamilton-Gordon

Government and law
The general election is held on 9 December. Afterwards the 8th New Zealand Parliament begins.


 * Speaker of the House – Maurice O'Rorke.
 * Premier – John Hall (New Zealand)
 * Minister of Finance – Harry Atkinson
 * Chief Justice – Hon Sir James Prendergast

Main centre leaders

 * Mayor of Auckland – James Clark
 * Mayor of Christchurch – Charles Thomas Ick followed by James Gapes
 * Mayor of Dunedin – Archibald Hilson Ross followed by James Gore
 * Mayor of Wellington – William Hutchison

Events

 * The government passes the Chinese Immigration Act 1881. This imposes a £10 tax per Chinese person entering New Zealand, and permits only one Chinese immigrant for every 10 tons of cargo.
 * 1 October – The first telephone exchange in New Zealand is opened in Christchurch.
 * 24 October – A telephone exchange is opened in Auckland.

Cricket

 * The Auckland Association is formed.
 * An Australian team tours the country playing twelve matches against provincial teams. None of the games have first-class status, with the home teams fielding between 12 and 22 players. Australia suffered one loss, but 10 wickets to the Wanganui XXII. Itinerary

Horse racing

 * New Zealand Cup winner: Grip
 * New Zealand Derby winner: The Dauphin
 * Auckland Cup winner: King Quail
 * Wellington Cup winner: Natator

Rugby union
The Otago union is formed.

Provincial club rugby champions include:
 * see also Category:Rugby union in New Zealand

Shooting
Ballinger Belt: Lieutenant Paynter (Nelson)

Births

 * 16 January: Hercules Wright, rugby union player.
 * 14 February (in Australia): George Skellerup, industrialist
 * 6 April: Walter Broadfoot, politician.

Deaths

 * 15 September William Sefton Moorhouse, politician.

Unknown date

 * Paora Te Potangaroa, Māori prophet.