The following lists events that happened during 1958 in New Zealand.
Population Estimated population as of 31 December: 2,316,000. Increase since 31 December 1957: 53,200 (2.35%). Males per 100 females: 101.3.
Incumbents
Regal and viceregal Head of State – Elizabeth II Governor-General – The Viscount Cobham GCMG TD.Statistics New Zealand: New Zealand Official Yearbook, 1990. ISSN 0078-0170 page 52
Government The 32nd New Zealand Parliament commenced. In power was the newly elected Labour government led by Walter Nash.
Speaker of the House – Robert Macfarlane.Lambert & Palenski: The New Zealand Almanac, 1982. Prime Minister – Walter Nash. Deputy Prime Minister – Jerry Skinner. Minister of Finance – Arnold Nordmeyer. Minister of Foreign Affairs – Walter Nash. Attorney-General – Rex Mason. Chief Justice — Sir Harold Barrowclough
Parliamentary opposition Leader of the Opposition – Keith Holyoake (National).
Main centre leaders Mayor of Auckland – Keith Buttle Mayor of Hamilton – Roderick Braithwaite Mayor of Wellington – Frank Kitts Mayor of Christchurch – Robert Macfarlane then George Manning Mayor of Dunedin – Leonard Morton Wright
Events 26 June – 'Black Budget', raising taxes on tobacco, alcohol and petrol, passed by second Labour government. June – New Zealand's first supermarket, Foodtown, opens at Ōtāhuhu. 3 September – Brian Barratt-Boyes performs New Zealand's first open heart surgery at Auckland's Green Lane Hospital. 29 September – The emergency number 111 for fire, police and ambulance is introduced; initially only in Masterton and Carterton. 19 October - A march of over six thousand people is held in Paraparaumu to mark the construction of the Our Lady of Lourdes statue. 15 November - The Wairakei Power Station is commissioned. It is New Zealand's first geothermal power station, and only the second large-scale geothermal power station in the world. United States base for Operation Deep Freeze is established at Christchurch Airport.
Arts and literature The Robert Burns Fellowship is established to honour the bicentenary of the poet's birth.
See 1958 in art, 1958 in literature, Robert Burns Fellowship, :Category:1958 books
Music
See: 1958 in music
Radio
See: Public broadcasting in New Zealand
17 March – Radio station 2XB (later 2ZD) launches in Masterton on 840 kHz.
Film
See: :Category:1958 film awards, 1958 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, :Category:1958 films
Sport
Athletics Ray Puckett wins his first national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:37:28 in Lower Hutt.
British Empire and Commonwealth Games
Total 4 6 9 19
Chess The 65th National Chess Championship was held in Christchurch, and was won by J.R. Phillips of Auckland.List of New Zealand Chess Champions
Horse racing
Harness racing New Zealand Trotting Cup – False Step Auckland Trotting Cup – MacklinAuckland Trotting cup at hrnz.co.nz
Lawn bowls The national outdoor lawn bowls championships are held in Christchurch. Men's singles champion – Phil Skoglund (Northern Bowling Club) Men's pair champions – C.J. Rogers, James Pirret (skip) (Tuakau Bowling Club) Men's fours champions – W.H. Woods, L.G. Donaldson, A. Connew, Pete Skoglund (skip) (Carlton Bowling Club)
Rugby union The All Blacks played three Test matches against the touring Australian side, retaining the Bledisloe Cup:Pick and Go rugby results database 23 August, Athletic Park (Wellington), Wellington: New Zealand 25 – 3 Australia 6 September, Lancaster Park, Christchurch: New Zealand 3 – 6 Australia 20 September, Epsom Showgrounds, Auckland: New Zealand 17 – 8 Australia
Soccer The national men's team played seven matches including five internationals:List of New Zealand national soccer matches 16 August, Wellington: NZ 2 – 3 Australia 23 August, Auckland: NZ 2 – 2 Australia 26 August, Hamilton: NZ 3 – 0 Waikato XI 31 August, Nouméa: NZ 2 – 1 New Caledonia 7 September, Nouméa: NZ 5 – 1 New Caledonia 14 September, Nouméa: NZ 2 – 1 New Caledonia 18 September, Auckland: NZ 1 – 1 Auckland The Chatham Cup was won by Seatoun for the second consecutive year. They beat Christchurch city 7–1 in the final.NZ Soccer Provincial league champions: Auckland: Onehunga Bay of Plenty: Rangers Buller: Millerton Thistle Canterbury: Western Hawke's Bay: Napier Athletic Manawatu: Kiwi United Marlborough: Spartans Nelson: Settlers Northland: Marlin Rovers Otago: Northern Poverty Bay: Eastern Union South Canterbury: West End Southland: Brigadiers Taranaki: City Waikato: Hamilton Technical OB Wairarapa: Masterton Athletic Wanganui: Wanganui Athletic Wellington: Seatoun AFC
Births 1 January: Lesley Murdoch, cricketer 7 February: Simon Upton, politician 30 March: Peter Ellis, convicted for child abuse (d. 2019) 15 April: John Bracewell, cricket player and coach 14 May: Jools Topp, musician and comedian (d. 2026) Lynda Topp, entertainer 16 May (in the U.S.A.): Thomas "Tab" Baldwin, basketball coach 27 May: Neil Finn, singer, songwriter 13 September: Philippa Werry, writer 14 September: Jeff Crowe, cricketer 27 September: Mitch Shirra, motorcycle speedway rider 17 November: Frank van Hattum, soccer player Glenn Dods, soccer player 23 November: Martin Snedden, cricketer and sports administrator 30 November: Barry Cooper, cricketer 2 December: Roger Sowry, politician A J Hackett, extreme sports entrepreneur (in Zambia): Vicky Jones, children's author Pio Terei, actor, singer and comedian Jane Wrightson, chief censor :Category:1958 births
Deaths 12 March – Bill Barnard, politician, 10th Speaker of the House of Representatives 1 June – Fred Baker, soldier 2 June – Robert William Smith, politician 17 July – William Taverner, MP and mayor of Dunedin 27 July – William Montgomery Jr., politician 9 October – Merton Hodge, playwright 25 October – James Chapman-Taylor, architect :Category:1958 deaths
References
See also 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