1939 in New Zealand

The following lists events that happened during 1939 in New Zealand.

Population

 * Estimated population as of 31 December: 1,641,600.
 * Increase since 31 December 1938: 23,300 (1.44%).
 * Males per 100 females: 103.0.

Regal and viceregal

 * Head of state – George VI
 * Governor-General – The Viscount Galway GCMG DSO OBE PC

Government
The 26th New Zealand Parliament continued with the Labour Party in government.


 * Speaker of the House – Bill Barnard (Labour Party)
 * Prime Minister – Michael Joseph Savage
 * Minister of Finance – Walter Nash
 * Minister of Foreign Affairs – Michael Joseph Savage
 * Attorney-General – Rex Mason
 * Chief Justice – Sir Michael Myers

Parliamentary opposition

 * Leader of the Opposition – Adam Hamilton (National Party).

Main centre leaders

 * Mayor of Auckland – Ernest Davis
 * Mayor of Wellington – Thomas Hislop
 * Mayor of Christchurch – Robert Macfarlane
 * Mayor of Dunedin – Andrew Henson Allen

Events

 * 29 January: (Sunday) Opening of St Peter's College, Auckland by Bishop J M Liston.
 * 20 March: William Snodgrass, a New Zealand politician, disappeared from the interisland ferry Arahura while travelling overnight from Wellington to Nelson.
 * 3 September (backdated to 9.30 pm): New Zealand declares war on Germany at the same time as Britain (though delayed until confirmation by the Admiralty message to the fleet).
 * 31 October: The Strongman coal mine in Nine Mile Valley near Greymouth is officially opened by Minister of Mines, Paddy Webb.
 * 8 November: New Zealand Centennial Exhibition opened in Kilbirnie, Wellington
 * 13 December: New Zealand warship HMS Achilles fought in the Battle of the River Plate against German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee.
 * 17 December: The Graf Spee is scuttled off Montevideo harbour.
 * The Poverty Bay Herald changes its name to The Gisborne Herald, which continues to publish.

Arts and literature
See 1939 in art, 1939 in literature

Music
See: 1939 in music

Radio
See: Public broadcasting in New Zealand

Film
See: Category:1939 film awards, 1939 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, Category:1939 films

Athletics

 * Clarrie Gibbons wins the national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:44:56.2 on 11 March 1939 in Napier.

Basketball
A second interprovincial championship is held even though there is still no national association. (see 1938 and 1946)
 * Interpovincial Champions: Men – Wellington

Chess

 * The 48th National Chess Championship was held in Wanganui, and was won by John Dunlop of Dunedin (his 5th title).

Harness racing

 * New Zealand Trotting Cup – Lucky Jack (2nd win)
 * Auckland Trotting Cup – Marlene

Lawn bowls
The national outdoor lawn bowls championships are held in Auckland.
 * Men's singles champion – W.C. Franks (Balmoral Bowling Club)
 * Men's pair champions – J. Anchor, W.J. Robinson (skip) (Hamilton Bowling Club)
 * Men's fours champions – C.F. Robertson, H. Franks, J.F. Benson, W.C. Franks (skip) (Balmoral Bowling Club)

Rugby union
Category:Rugby union in New Zealand, Category:All Blacks
 * Ranfurly Shield

Rugby league
New Zealand national rugby league team

Soccer

 * The Chatham Cup is won by Waterside of Wellington who beat Western of Christchurch 4–2 in the final.
 * Provincial league champions:
 * Auckland:	Ponsonby AFC
 * Canterbury:	Western
 * Hawke's Bay:	Napier Utd
 * Nelson:	YMCA
 * Otago:	Mosgiel
 * South Canterbury:	Old Boys
 * Southland:	Mataura
 * Waikato:	Rotowaro
 * Wanganui:	Wanganui Athletic
 * Wellington:	Petone Football Club

Births

 * 20 January: Ken Comber, politician. (died 1998)
 * 27 February: Don McKinnon, deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand and Commonwealth Secretary-General.
 * 10 April (in England): Michael Cox, politician.
 * 24 April: Fergie McCormick, rugby union player. (died 2018)
 * 16 September: Tony Davies, rugby union player. (died 2008)
 * 23 September: Hugh Williams, High Court judge.
 * 23 September: Pauline Stansfield, disability advocate. (died 2022)
 * 25 September: David Walter, mayor of Stratford. (died 2020)
 * 4 October: Ivan Mauger, motorcycle speedway champion. (died 2018)
 * 29 October: Michael Smither, painter.
 * 18 October: Peter Brown, politician.
 * 24 November: Bob Jones, businessman.
 * 27 December: Hugo Judd, diplomat and public servant (died 2017)
 * Raymond Ching, painter.
 * Philip Temple, writer.

Deaths

 * 16 March: George Mitchell, soldier and politician.
 * 25 March: Annie Cleland Millar, businesswoman.
 * 26 April: Ted Howard, politician.
 * 26 July: Thomas William "Torpedo Billy" Murphy, boxer.
 * 17 July: Paddy the Wanderer, a dog in Wellington.
 * 27 July: Malcolm Champion, swimmer.
 * 23 August: Robin Hyde, writer.
 * 18 September: T. W. Ratana, prophet.
 * 3 November: David McLaren, politician.