The following lists events that happened during 1880 in New Zealand.
Incumbents
Regal and viceregal
- Head of State – Queen Victoria
- Governor – Sir Hercules Robinson leaves on 9 September to take up the position of High Commissioner in South Africa. The Hon. Sir Arthur Hamilton-Gordon becomes Governor on 29 November.
Government and law
The 7th New Zealand Parliament continues.
- Speaker of the House – Maurice O'Rorke.
- Premier – John Hall (New Zealand)
- Minister of Finance – Harry Atkinson
- Chief Justice – Hon Sir James Prendergast
Main centre leaders
- Mayor of Auckland – Thomas Peacock followed by James Clark
- Mayor of Christchurch – Charles Thomas Ick
- Mayor of Dunedin – Archibald Hilson Ross
- Mayor of Wellington – William Hutchison
Events
- September: The Waikato Mail begins publishing in Cambridge. The newspaper is produced three times a week. It ceases to publish in 1883.
Undated
Wellington Teachers College is opened.
Sport
Horse racing
- New Zealand Cup winner: Le Loup
- New Zealand Derby winner: Sir Mordred
- Auckland Cup winner: Foul Play
- Wellington Cup winner: Foul Play
- see also Category:Horse races in New Zealand.
Rugby union
The Wellington Union is the first to hold a club championships.
Provincial club rugby champions
Wellington: Athletic
Shooting
Ballinger Belt: Sergeant Okey (Taranaki)
Swimming
The first swimming club in New Zealand, Christchurch Amateur Swimming Club, is formed on 11 October. It is soon followed by others throughout New Zealand.
Tennis
Prior to this year there are tennis clubs in Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin. As well as tennis club members also play croquet, bowls and archery.
Births
- 3 August: Arthur Hall, politician.
Deaths
- 9 March: Edward Hargreaves, Member of Parliament.
- 12 March: Thomas Birch, Member of Parliament
- 27 July: David Forsyth Main, Member of Parliament.
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
References
- General
- Romanos, J. (2001) New Zealand Sporting Records and Lists. Auckland: Hodder Moa Beckett. ISBN 1-86958-879-7
- Specific
External links
Media related to 1880 in New Zealand at Wikimedia Commons
