← 1896 1895 1894 1897 in New Zealand → 1898 1899 1900
Decades:	1870s 1880s 1890s 1900s 1910s
See also:	History of New Zealand List of years in New Zealand Timeline of New Zealand history

The following lists events that happened during1897 in New Zealand.

• Head of State –Queen Victoria
• Governor – The term ofDavid Boyle, 7th Earl of Glasgow as Governor ends on 8 February. He is succeeded on 9 August bySir Uchter John Mark Knox, 5th Earl of Ranfurly

The13th New Zealand Parliament continues with theLiberal Party in power.

• Speaker of the House – SirMaurice O'Rorke
• Prime Minister –Richard Seddon
• Minister of Finance –Richard Seddon
• Chief Justice –HonSirJames Prendergast

See:Category:Parliament of New Zealand,New Zealand elections

• Mayor of Auckland –Abraham Boardman followed byPeter Dignan
• Mayor of Christchurch –Harry Joseph Beswick followed byWalter Cooper
• Mayor of Dunedin –Hugh Gourley followed byEdward Bowes Cargill
• Mayor of Wellington –Francis Bell

• 3 May:Margaret Cruickshank becomes New Zealand's first registered woman doctor.^[1]
• 14 May:Pigeon post is introduced between Auckland andGreat Barrier Island.

National Champions, MenArthur Holder is the first athlete to win four titles at a single championships (he is also second in the 100 yards).^[2]

• 100 yards – Alfred J. Patrick (Wellington)
• 250 yards – Arthur H. Holder (Wanganui)
• 440 yards – Arthur H. Holder (Wanganui)
• 880 yards – James McKean (Auckland)
• 1 mile – James McKean (Auckland)
• 3 miles – E. Reynolds (Auckland)
• 120 yards hurdles – Arthur H. Holder (Wanganui)
• 440 yards hurdles – Arthur H. Holder (Wanganui)
• Long jump –Leonard Cuff (Canterbury)
• High jump – C. Laurie (Auckland)
• Pole vault – tie Jimmy Te Paa (Auckland) and Hori Eruera (Auckland)
• Shot put – Timothy B. O’Connor (Auckland)
• Hammer throw – J. Callender (Auckland)

National Champion: R.J. Barnes of Wellington.^[3]

The National amateur championships were held in Auckland^[4]

• Men – D. Pryde (Hutt)
• Women – L. Wilford (Hutt)

• Auckland Trotting Cup (over 2 miles) is won by Awahuri^[5]

• New Zealand Cup – Waiuku
• New Zealand Derby – Multiform
• Auckland Cup – Antares
• Wellington Cup – Strath Braan

• Top New Zealand stakes earner – Multiform
• Leading flat jockey – R. Derrett

National Champions^[6]

• Singles – W. McLaren (Kaitangata)
• Pairs – W. Cowie and W. Thomson (skip) (Dunedin)
• Fours – H. Nalder, W. Thomas, R. Struthers and H. Thomson (skip) (Christchurch)

• Savile Cup winners – Manawatu

National Champions (Men)

• Single sculls – C. Chapman (Wairewa)
• Double sculls – Wairewa, Little River
• Coxless pairs – Picton
• Coxed fours – Queen's Dr, Port Chalmers

• 1897 New Zealand rugby union tour of Australia

Provincial club rugby champions include:

see alsoCategory:Rugby union in New Zealand

Ballinger Belt –Private A. Ballinger (Wellington Guards)

Provincial league champions:^[7]

• Auckland:Auckland United
• Otago:Roslyn Dunedin
• Wellington:Wellington Swifts

National Champions (Men)

• 100 yards freestyle – T. Wauchop (Canterbury)
• 220 yards freestyle – W. Stratton (Canterbury)

National Championships

• Men's singles – J. Marshall
• Women's singles – Kathleen Nunneley
• Men's doubles – H. Parker and C. Gore
• Women's doubles – Kathleen Nunneley and T. Trimmell

• 28 January:Howard Kippenberger, soldier.
• 23 March:Leslie Andrew, soldier.
• 10 August:Maurice Brownlie, rugby union player.
• 2 December:Rewi Alley, writer, educator, friend of China.
• 3 December:John Buckland Wright, engraver and book illustrator.

• 22 April:Charles John Taylor, politician (in England).
• 21 May:Abraham Boardman, Mayor of Auckland.
• 23 September:Henry Fish, politician
• 27 September:John Lillie Gillies, politician.
• Mary Anne Rymill, missionary, teacher, nurse and companion (born 1817).^[8]

• List of years in New Zealand
• Timeline of New Zealand history
• History of New Zealand
• Military history of New Zealand
• Timeline of the New Zealand environment
• Timeline of New Zealand's links with Antarctica

General

• Romanos, J. (2001)New Zealand Sporting Records and Lists. Auckland: Hodder Moa Beckett.ISBN 1-86958-879-7

Specific

Media related to1897 in New Zealand at Wikimedia Commons

• 1897 in New Zealand

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