1883 in New Zealand

The following lists events that happened during 1883 in New Zealand.

Regal and viceregal

 * Head of State – Queen Victoria
 * Governor – Lieutenant-General Sir William Jervois begins his term on 20 January.

Government and law
The 8th New Zealand Parliament continues.


 * Speaker of the House – Maurice O'Rorke.
 * Premier – Frederick Whitaker is replaced by Harry Atkinson on 25 September
 * Minister of Finance – Harry Atkinson
 * Chief Justice – Hon Sir James Prendergast

Main centre leaders

 * Mayor of Auckland – James Clark followed by William Waddel
 * Mayor of Christchurch – George Ruddenklau
 * Mayor of Dunedin – James Bryce Thomson followed by William Parker Street
 * Mayor of Wellington – George Fisher

Events

 * 1 March – A telephone exchange is opened in Wellington (the fourth in New Zealand).
 * The Hokitika Guardian and Hokitika Evening Star merge to form the Hokitika Guardian and Star.
 * September: The Waikato Mail ceases publication. The Cambridge newspaper started in 1880.
 * 19 February: Pacifist leaders Te Whiti o Rongomai and To hu are released from prison, where they had been held without trial since November 1881.
 * July: The Waikato Gazette & Thames Valley Recorder begins publishing. It was absorbed by the Cambridge News in 1889.
 * the New Zealand Shipping Company was formed in Christchurch.

Cricket

 * 1882–83 New Zealand cricket season
 * 1883–84 New Zealand cricket season

Horse racing
The New Zealand Cup is so-named, the race having been run under another name since 1865.


 * New Zealand Cup winner: Tasman
 * New Zealand Derby winner: Oudeis
 * Auckland Cup winner: Salvage
 * Wellington Cup winner: Mischief


 * see also Category:Horse races in New Zealand.

Rugby
The Auckland Rugby Union is formed.

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

Shooting
Ballinger Belt: Sergeant Kennedy (Dunedin)

Births

 * 14 May – Charlie Seeling (died 1956), rugby (league and union) footballer
 * 4 August – Sydney Smith (died 1969), forensic pathologist
 * 31 October – Anthony Wilding (died 1915), tennis player

Full date unknown

 * Ngapipi Reweti, land negotiator (died 1957)

Deaths

 * 30 March – Edward Graham McMinn (born 1843), politician
 * 30 June – William Cutten (born 1822), politician
 * 30 December – David Hay (born 1815), nurseryman