1934 in New Zealand

The following lists events that happened during 1934 in New Zealand.

Population

 * Estimated population as of 31 December: 1,558,400.
 * Increase since previous 31 December 1933: 11,300 (0.73%).
 * Males per 100 females: 103.3.

Regal and viceregal

 * Head of State – George V
 * Governor-General – The Lord Bledisloe GCMG KBE PC

Government
The 24th New Zealand Parliament continued with the coalition of the United Party and the Reform Party; which postponed the next general election from 1934 to 1935.


 * Speaker of the House – Charles Statham (Independent)
 * Prime Minister – George Forbes
 * Minister of Finance – Gordon Coates (Reform Party)
 * Minister of Foreign Affairs – George Forbes
 * Attorney-General – George Forbes
 * Chief Justice — Sir Michael Myers

Parliamentary opposition

 * Leader of the Opposition – Michael Joseph Savage (Labour Party).

Main centre leaders

 * Mayor of Auckland – George Hutchison
 * Mayor of Wellington – Thomas Hislop
 * Mayor of Christchurch – Dan Sullivan
 * Mayor of Dunedin – Edwin Thomas Cox

Events

 * 6 February: Treaty house and grounds at Waitangi dedicated as a national reserve.
 * 5 March: A magnitude 7.6 earthquake strikes Pahiatua, Manawatu-Wanganui, at 11.46pm.
 * 28 June: Third session of the 24th Parliament commences.
 * 10 November: Third session of the 24th Parliament concludes.
 * Banknotes issued by the new Reserve Bank replace those issued by the Trading Banks, see New Zealand pound.
 * The first official airmail flight from New Zealand to Australia by Faith in Australia; see Charles Ulm.

Arts and literature
See 1934 in art, 1934 in literature, Category:1934 books

Music
See: 1934 in music

Radio
See: Public broadcasting in New Zealand

Film
See: Category:1934 film awards, 1934 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, Category:1934 films

Chess

 * The 43rd National Chess Championship was held in Dunedin, and was won by John Dunlop, of Dunedin, his fourth title.

Golf

 * The 24th New Zealand Open championship was won by Andrew Shaw, his 6th title.
 * The 38th National Amateur Championships were held in Wanganui
 * Men: B. M. Silk (Wanganui)
 * Women: Miss B. Gaisford – her second title.

Harness racing

 * New Zealand Trotting Cup – Indianapolis
 * Auckland Trotting Cup – Roi L'Or

Lawn bowls
The national outdoor lawn bowls championships are held in Dunedin.
 * Men's singles champion – W. Carswell (Taieri Bowling Club)
 * Men's pair champions – J. McPherson, J. Veitch (skip) (West Harbour Bowling Club)
 * Men's fours champions – G. Dickson, F. Redpath, H.F. Gibson, H. Wilson (skip) (Linwood Bowling Club)

Rugby
Category:Rugby union in New Zealand, Category:All Blacks
 * the Bledisloe Cup was won by Australia, with one win and one draw.
 * The Ranfurly Shield changed hands twice: Canterbury lost their first defence to Hawkes Bay 0–9. Hawkes Bay defended the shield against Wanganui 39–16 and Taranaki 23–8 before losing it to Auckland 14–18.

Rugby league
New Zealand national rugby league team

Soccer

 * The Chatham Cup is won by Auckland Thistle who beat Christchurch Thistle 2–1 in the final.
 * Provincial league champions:
 * Auckland:	Thistle
 * Canterbury:	Thistle
 * Hawke's Bay:	Napier YMCA
 * Nelson:	YMCA
 * Otago:	King Edward Technical College Old Boys
 * Southland:	Southern
 * Taranaki:	Stratford
 * Waikato:	Huntly Starr Utd
 * Wanganui:	Thistle
 * Wellington:	Marist

January

 * 3 January – Bob Elliott, paediatrician (died 2020)
 * 6 January – Harry M. Miller, entertainment promoter and publicist (died 2018)
 * 11 January – Barrie West, naval officer
 * 22 January – Graham Kerr, television cook
 * 26 January – Rex Percy, rugby union and rugby league player (died 2015)

February

 * 4 February – Donal Smith, athlete
 * 6 February – Barry Magee, athlete
 * 7 February – Ossie Butt, rugby league player (died 2002)
 * 10 February – Fleur Adcock, poet and editor
 * 26 February – Kara Puketapu, public servant and Maori leader (died 2023)

March

 * 3 March – Lindsay Townsend, rugby union player (died 2020)
 * 15 March – Wally Hughes, association football player and coach (died 2011)
 * 16 March
 * Ian McLean, politician
 * Des Townson, yacht designer (died 2008)
 * 17 March – Ian Barker, jurist (died 2022)
 * 20 March
 * Graeme Hansen, equestrian (died 2007)
 * Ralph Maxwell, politician (died 2012)
 * 26 March
 * Harle Freeman-Greene, diplomat
 * Matiu Rata, politician (died 1997)
 * 31 March – Randall Carrington, cricketer (died 2018)

April

 * 3 April – Pamela Allen, children's writer and illustrator
 * 9 April – Bill Birch, politician
 * 14 April – Duncan MacRae, rugby league player (died 2019)
 * 21 April – Martin Horton, cricket player and coach (died 2011)
 * 30 April – Tom Coughlan, rugby union player (died 2017)

May

 * 1 May
 * Nev MacEwan, rugby union player
 * Apirana Mahuika, Ngāti Porou leader (died 2015)
 * 8 May
 * Graeme Lowans, cricketer (died 2014)
 * Gordon Ogilvie, historian and biographer (died 2017)
 * 12 May – Peter Bland, poet, actor
 * 15 May – Frank McAtamney, rugby union player (died 2022)
 * 16 May – Roy Kerr, mathematician
 * 21 May – Guy Henderson, oboist (died 2013)
 * 28 May – Bill Baillie, athlete (died 2018)
 * 30 May
 * Mel Cooke, rugby league player (died 2013)
 * Peter Dronke, medievalist (died 2020)

June

 * 5 June
 * Ashley Lawrence, conductor (died 1990)
 * Margaret Stuart, athlete (died 1999)
 * 8 June – David Abbott, cricket umpire (died 2016)
 * 11 June – John da Silva, wrestler, boxer (died 2021)
 * 13 June – Mel Brieseman, public health official, missionary (died 2010)
 * 19 June – Arthur Candy, cyclist (died 2019)

July

 * 12 July – Tuna Scanlan, boxer (died 2014)
 * 15 July – Noel Hobson, field hockey player
 * 19 July – Tessa Birnie, concert pianist (died 2008)
 * 22 July
 * Sam Chaffey, alpine skier, businessman (died 1998)
 * Neville Denton, rugby league player and coach (died 2015)
 * 25 July – Peter Skelton, cricketer (died 2009)
 * 27 July – Robin Leamy, Roman Catholic bishop (died 2022)
 * 31 July – Roger Urbahn, rugby union player, cricketer, sports journalist (died 1984)

August

 * 1 August – John Beck, cricketer (died 2000)
 * 6 August – Dave Gillespie, rugby union player
 * 9 August – Kevin Laidlaw, rugby union player
 * 21 August – Ruth Butterworth, political scientist (died 2020)
 * 24 August
 * Tony Campbell, biblical scholar (died 2020)
 * John Waddingham, cricketer
 * 29 August – John Guy, cricketer

September

 * 2 September
 * Leslie Butler, cricketer (died 2006)
 * Colin Knight, educationalist (died 2016)
 * 6 September – Alison Roxburgh, women's rights advocate, community leader (died 2020)
 * 8 September – Ross Brown, rugby union player (died 2014)
 * 9 September
 * Eugene Paykel, psychiatrist
 * John Wallace, jurist (died 2012)
 * Roy Williams, decathlete
 * 10 September
 * John Abrams, field hockey player
 * Des Webb, rugby union player (died 1987)
 * 11 September – Evon Dickson, cricketer (died 2012)
 * 14 September – Paul Little, rugby union player (died 1993)
 * 19 September – Austin Mitchell, journalist, politician (died 2021)
 * 25 September – Allan Potts, athlete, athletics coach and administrator (died 2014)
 * 29 September – Bob Parker, rower (died 2009)

October

 * 1 October – Teupoko'ina Utanga Morgan, teacher, politician, author (died 2007)
 * 4 October – Joe Williams, physician, politician (died 2020)
 * 8 October – Jean Coulston, cricketer (died 2001)
 * 12 October – Maurice Langdon, cricketer
 * 18 October – Allan Wilson, biochemist (died 1991)
 * 20 October – Leo Close, Paralympic sportsman and sports organiser (died 1977)
 * 22 October – Donald McIntyre, opera singer
 * 28 October – Brian Davis, Anglican archbishop (died 1998)
 * 29 October – George Cuthill, association footballer
 * 31 October – Don Aickin, obstetrician and gynaecologist (died 2019)

November

 * 1 November – Les Mills, athlete, politician
 * 11 November – Peter Snow, physician (died 2006)
 * 12 November – Peter Wilkinson, politician (died 1987)
 * 13 November – Peter Arnett, TV journalist, Pulitzer Prize winner

December

 * 1 December – Peter Williams, lawyer, penal reform advocate (died 2015)
 * 6 December – Johnny Hanks, boxer (died 2013)
 * 11 December
 * Tom Hadfield, rugby league player (died 2018)
 * Ross McNabb, mycologist (died 1972)
 * 25 December – John Shrapnell, journalist, actor, singer (died 2020)
 * 26 December – Don Hunn, diplomat and public servant
 * 27 December – Ron Ackland, rugby league player and coach (died 2013)
 * 28 December – Bob Skelton, jockey (died 2016)
 * 30 December
 * Barry Briggs, speedway rider
 * Eddie Tonks, rugby union administrator (died 2020)

Undated

 * Gillian Cowlishaw, anthropologist
 * James Flynn, intelligence researcher, politician (died 2020)
 * Gil Hanly, artist
 * Olaf Keil, musician
 * Leo McKendry, politician
 * Norma Restieaux, cardiologist
 * Tepaeru Tereora, artist, Cook Islands Māori language advocate
 * Ted Thomas, jurist
 * Ann Verdcourt, potter (died 2022)

January–February

 * 6 January – Hikapuhi, Ngāti Pikiao tohunga (born c. 1871)
 * 7 January – Alfred West, rugby union player (born 1893)
 * 9 January – George Smailes, politician, clergyman (born 1862)
 * 10 January – Lawrence Grace, politician (born 1854)
 * 18 January – Jessie Aitken, community worker, political activist (born 1867)
 * 20 January – Joseph Lawton, cricket player and coach (born 1857)
 * 27 January – Spencer Gollan, rower, golfer (born 1860)
 * 31 January – Duncan Sommerville, mathematician and astronomer (born 1879)
 * 8 February– Herbert Izard, Anglican clergyman (born 1869)
 * 15 February – John Fletcher, businessman, politician (born 1888)
 * 22 February
 * Rosetta Baume, feminist, community leader (born 1871)
 * George Witters, conservationist (born 1876)

March–April

 * 5 March – Sir Arthur Dobson, surveyor, engineer, explorer (born 1841)
 * 12 March – Fanny Osborne, botanical illustrator (born 1852)
 * 31 March – James Mackintosh Bell, geologist, writer (born 1877)
 * 5 April – Thomas Davey, politician (born 1856)
 * 9 April – John Charles Thomson, politician (born 1866)
 * 11 April
 * Harry Beswick, politician (born 1860)
 * Sir Edwin Mitchelson, politician (born 1846)
 * Alexander Peebles, politician (born 1856)
 * 29 April – Bert Pither, cyclist, aviation experimenter (born 1871)
 * 30 April – James Testro, cricketer (born 1851)

May–June

 * 5 May – Ann O'Donnell, hotel proprietor (born c. 1858)
 * 6 May
 * William McGirr, cricketer (born 1859)
 * Sir Henry Wigram, businessman, politician, aviation pioneer (born 1857)
 * 14 May – George Fowler, cricketer (born 1860)
 * 26 May – John Anderson, rugby union player, engineer, politician (born 1849)
 * 2 June – David Ashby, cricketer (born 1852)
 * 7 June
 * William Vorrath, cricketer, rugby league player (born 1904)
 * George Webbe, cricketer (born 1856)
 * 9 June – John Joseph Woods, composer of "God Defend New Zealand" (born 1849)
 * 13 June – Guy Thornton, army chaplain (born 1872)
 * 14 June – Walter Empson, schoolteacher (born 1856)
 * 15 July – George Anson, cricketer, physician (born 1850)
 * 17 June – William Triggs, journalist, newspaper editor, politician (born 1855)
 * 27 June – Harry Ell, politician, conservationist (born 1862)

July–August

 * 1 July – Frederick William Ward, journalist and newspaper editor (born 1847)
 * 2 July – Arthur Plugge, army officer (born 1877)
 * 6 July – Thomas Pettit, businessman, politician (born 1858)
 * 8 July – Leonard Cockayne, botanist (born 1855)
 * 10 July – Andrew Walker, politician (born 1855)
 * 13 July – Kate Sheppard, suffragist (born 1848)
 * 16 July
 * Walter Bennett, politician (born 1864)
 * Carlo Bergamini, sculptor (born 1868)
 * 18 July – Herbert Fenwick, cricketer (born 1861)
 * 20 July – William Alfred Bayly, convicted murderer (born 1906)
 * 3 August – Allan Johnson, Anglican clergyman (born 1871)
 * 10 August – Sally Low, social reformer and peace campaigner (born 1876)
 * 11 August – William Collins, surgeon, politician, rugby union player, cricketer (born 1853)
 * 12 August – James Glasgow, cricketer (born 1934)
 * 17 August – Sir George Fowlds, politician (born 1860)

September–October

 * 2 September – James Allan, rugby union player (born 1860)
 * 4 September – Tini Taiaroa, community worker (born c. 1846)
 * 5 September – John Joseph Dougall, politician (born 1860)
 * 13 September – Sir John Roberts, businessman, politician (born 1845)
 * 14 September – Robert Loughnan, journalist, politician (born 1841)
 * 21 September – Hugh Stewart, soldier, historian (born 1884)
 * 30 September – Joseph Butler, timber merchant (born 1862)
 * 9 October – Roderick McKenzie, politician (born 1852)
 * 20 October – Arthur Blacklock, cricketer (born 1868)

November–December

 * 2 November – Alexander Don, Presbyterian missionary (born 1857)
 * 8 November – Arthur Eastwood, jockey, rowing coxswain (born 1905)
 * 19 November – Charles Wilson, politician (born 1862)
 * 25 November – Eliza Anscombe, painter (born 1872)
 * 2 December – Horace Packe, Anglican clergyman (born 1865)
 * 8 December – Robert Brown, cricketer (born 1850)
 * 10 December – Margaret Stoddart, botanical artist (born 1865)
 * 22 December – Robert Davenport, cricketer (born 1852)
 * 29 December – Sir Arthur Fell, politician (born 1850)