1902 in New Zealand

The following lists events that happened during 1902 in New Zealand.

Regal and viceregal

 * Head of State – Edward VII
 * Governor – The Earl of Ranfurly GCMG

Government
The Liberal Party was re-elected and formed the 15th New Zealand Parliament.


 * Speaker of the House – Maurice O'Rorke
 * Prime Minister – Richard Seddon
 * Minister of Finance – Richard Seddon
 * Chief Justice – Sir Robert Stout

The number of members of the House of Representatives is increased from 74 to 80.

Parliamentary opposition
Leader of the Opposition – no recognised leader in 1902.

Main centre leaders

 * Mayor of Auckland – Alfred Kidd
 * Mayor of Wellington – John Aitken
 * Mayor of Christchurch – Arthur Rhodes then Henry Wigram
 * Mayor of Dunedin – George Denniston then James Park

Events

 * 28 October – The SS Ventnor sinks off the coast of Hokianga with the loss of 13 lives. The ship was carrying the remains of 499 Chinese men, most of whom had been involved in the Otago Gold Rush, back to China.

Arts and literature
See 1902 in art, 1902 in literature

Music
See: 1902 in music

Boxing
The New Zealand Boxing Association is formed to control and promote amateur boxing. The first national championships are held, in four weight divisions, in Christchurch.

National amateur champions

 * Heavyweight – J. Fitzsimmons (Timaru)
 * Middleweight – F. Nash (Christchurch)
 * Lightweight – P. Oliver (Christchurch)
 * Featherweight – A. Jones (Christchurch)

Chess
National Champion: R.J. Barnes of Wellington.

Golf
The 10th National Amateur Championships were held in Christchurch
 * Men: S.H. Gollan (Napier)
 * Women: Mrs ? Bidwell

Harness racing

 * Auckland Trotting Cup: Van Dieman

Rugby

 * The NZRFU decides upon a challenge format for the Ranfurly Cup competition. When the trophy arrives from Britain it turns out to in fact be a shield.
 * 13 September – The Ranfurly Shield is first awarded to Auckland in recognition of their unbeaten record for the season.

Soccer
Provincial league champions:
 * Auckland:	North Shore
 * Otago:	Roslyn Dunedin
 * Wellington:	Wellington St. John's

Births

 * 1 May: Geoffrey Michael William Hodgkins, naturalist.
 * 8 May: Curly Page, cricketer.
 * 13 June: Gordon Minhinnick, cartoonist.
 * 16 June: Clarence Beeby, educationalist.
 * 3 July: Jack Newman, cricketer.
 * 23 July: Arthur Lindo Patterson, physicist.
 * 8 September: Bryan Todd, businessman.
 * Fred Hackett, politician.
 * (in Paris): Louise Henderson, painter.
 * Trevor Henry, supreme court judge.

Deaths

 * 30 January: Alfred Renall, politician and mayor.
 * 27 February:  James Gordon Stuart Grant, a local eccentric in Dunedin.
 * 26 June: William Garden Cowie, Bishop of Auckland and Anglican Primate of New Zealand
 * 15 July: John McLean, politician and farmer.
 * 18 October: Theodore Haultain, politician.
 * 3 December: Robert Lawson, architect