1894 in New Zealand

The following lists events that happened during 1894 in New Zealand.

Regal and viceregal

 * Head of State – Queen Victoria
 * Governor – David Boyle, 7th Earl of Glasgow

Government and law
The 12th New Zealand Parliament continues with the Liberal Party in power.


 * Speaker of the House – Sir Maurice O'Rorke becomes Speaker for the second time, replacing William Steward
 * Prime Minister – Richard Seddon
 * Minister of Finance – Joseph Ward
 * Chief Justice – Hon Sir James Prendergast

Parliamentary opposition
Leader of the Opposition – William Russell.

Main centre leaders

 * Mayor of Auckland – James Holland
 * Mayor of Christchurch – Eden George followed by Thomas Gapes
 * Mayor of Dunedin – Henry Fish
 * Mayor of Wellington – Alfred Brandon

Events

 * 30 October: Luxury steamer SS Wairarapa, carrying 230 passengers from Sydney bound for Auckland, is wrecked on Great Barrier Island with the loss of 135 lives.


 * Undated
 * American balloonist Leila Adair tours New Zealand. She is possibly the first woman to fly in New Zealand.


 * New Zealand enacts the world's first national minimum wage law, by the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act.

Sport
Leonard Cuff is appointed a Founding Member of the International Olympic Committee. He remains the member for both New Zealand and Australia until 1905.

Athletics
National Champions, Men
 * 100 yards – Jack Hempton (Wellington)
 * 250 yards – H. Reeves (Canterbury)
 * 440 yards – W. Low (Otago)
 * 880 yards – W. Low (Otago)
 * 1 mile – C. Morpeth (Otago)
 * 3 miles – C. Morpeth (Otago)
 * 120 yards hurdles – Harold Batger (Wellington)
 * 440 yards hurdles – Harold Batger (Wellington)
 * Long jump – Wallingford Mendelson (South Canterbury)
 * High jump – H. Bailey (Wellington)
 * Pole vault –H. Kingsley (Wanganui)
 * Shot put – O. McCormack (Wellington)
 * Hammer throw – O. McCormack (Wellington)

Chess
National Champion: J. Edwards, of Wellington.

Golf

 * The 2nd National Amateur Championships were held in Christchurch
 * Men: H. Macneil (Otago)
 * Women : Mrs C. Wilder

Harness racing

 * Auckland Trotting Cup (over 3 miles) is won by Tom Hicks

Thoroughbred racing

 * New Zealand Cup – Impulse
 * New Zealand Derby – Blue Fire
 * Auckland Cup – Lottie
 * Wellington Cup – Vogengang

Season leaders (1893/94)

 * Top New Zealand stakes earner – Blue Fire
 * Leading flat jockey – J. Connop

Lawn Bowls
The pairs championship is held for the first time. National Champions
 * Singles – T. Sneddon (Kaituna)
 * Pairs – T. Sneddon and H. Reid (skip) (Kaituna)
 * Fours – J. Davidson, A. Owen, J. Wedderspoon and J. Evans (skip) (Caledonian)

Polo

 * Savile Cup winners – Rangitikei

Rowing
National Champions (Men)
 * Single sculls – M. Keefe (Auckland)
 * Double sculls – Union, Christchurch
 * Coxless pairs – Union, Christchurch
 * Coxed fours – Lyttelton

Rugby union
Provincial club rugby champions include:

Shooting
Ballinger Belt – Captain E. Smith (Dunedin City Guards)

Soccer
Provincial Champions:
 * Auckland: Alliance United
 * Wellington: Wellington Rovers
 * Otago: Roslyn Dunedin

Swimming
National Champions (Men)
 * 100 yards freestyle – T. Needham (New South Wales, Australia)
 * 220 yards freestyle – W. Gormley (New South Wales, Australia)
 * 440 yards freestyle – W. Gormley (New South Wales, Australia)
 * 880 yards freestyle – W. Gormley (New South Wales, Australia)

Tennis
National championships
 * Men's singles – M. Fenwicke
 * Women's singles – M. Spiers
 * Men's doubles – J. Marshall and P. Marshall
 * Women's doubles – P. Chapman and M. Nicholson

Births

 * 2 February – Rongowhakaata Pere Halbert, Māori leader, historian, interpreter, genealogist
 * 24 February – Victor Spencer, soldier executed in World War I, pardoned in 2000
 * 1 June – Paraire Karaka Paikea, politician
 * 14 July: – Paddy Kearins, politician.
 * 21 July – Toko Rātana, Rātana church leader and politician
 * 13 August: – Fintan Patrick Walsh, trade unionist.
 * 10 November: – Andrew Davidson, educationalist

Deaths

 * 5 June: Vincent Pyke, politician
 * 16 September: Robert Hart, politician.