The following lists events that happened during 1959 in New Zealand.
Population
Estimated population as of 31 December: 2,359,700. Increase since 31 December 1958: 43,700 (1.89%). Males per 100 females: 101.0.
Incumbents
Regal and viceregal
Head of State – Elizabeth II
Governor-General – The Viscount Cobham GCMG TD.
Government
The 32nd New Zealand Parliament continued. In power was the Labour government led by Walter Nash.
Speaker of the House – Robert Macfarlane
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 then Dove-Myer Robinson
Mayor of Hamilton – Roderick Braithwaite then Denis Rogers
Mayor of Wellington – Frank Kitts
Mayor of Christchurch – George Manning
Mayor of Dunedin – Leonard Morton Wright then Stuart Sidey
Events
30 May: The Auckland Harbour Bridge is opened. 24 November: The coastal trader MV Holmglen sinks near Timaru with the loss of 15 lives.
Arts and literature
Ian Cross wins the first Robert Burns Fellowship.
See 1959 in art, 1959 in literature
Music
See: 1959 in music
Radio
See: Public broadcasting in New Zealand
Film
See: :Category:1959 film awards, 1959 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, :Category:1959 films
Sport
Athletics
Ray Puckett wins his second national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:27:28.2 on 7 March in Palmerston North.
Chess
The 66th National Chess Championship was held in Hamilton. The title was shared between F.A. Foulds and B.C. Menzies, both of Auckland.
Horse racing
Harness racing
New Zealand Trotting Cup – False Step (2nd win) Auckland Trotting Cup – Scottish Command
Lawn bowls
The national outdoor lawn bowls championships are held in Wellington. Men's singles champion – W.R. Fleming Sr (Tuakau Bowling Club) Men's pair champions – G. Bradley, H.J. Thompson (skip) (Whitiora Bowling Club) Men's fours champions – T. Sunde, C. Hill, A. Sunde, M.A. Marinovich (skip) (Oratia Bowling Club)
Rugby union
The British Lions team toured New Zealand, losing the Test series 3–1. They also lost two of their 21 provincial games, to Canterbury and Otago. 18 July, Carisbrook, Dunedin: New Zealand 18 – 17 British Isles 15 August, Athletic Park, Wellington: New Zealand 11 – 8 British Isles 29 August, Lancaster Park, Christchurch: New Zealand 22 – 8 British Isles 19 September, Eden Park, Auckland: New Zealand 6 – 9 British Isles
Soccer
The national men's team played one match against a visiting Costa Rican club side: 6 June, Auckland: NZ 3 – 2 Deportivo Saprissa The Chatham Cup was won by Dunedin team Northern who beat North Shore United 3–2 in the final. Provincial league champions: Auckland: North Shore United Bay of Plenty: Kahukura Buller: Denniston Hotspurs Canterbury: Western Hawke's Bay: Napier Athletic Manawatu: Kiwi United Marlborough: Woodbourne Nelson: Rangers Northland: Otangarei United Otago: Northern AFC Poverty Bay: Eastern Union South Canterbury: West End Southland: Rovers Taranaki: Moturoa Waikato: Hamilton Technical OB Wairarapa: Douglas Villa Wanganui: New Settlers Wellington: Northern
Births
13 April: Justin Boyle , cricketer. 8 May: Ingrid Jagersma, cricketer. 9 May: Andrew Jones , cricketer. 16 May: Greg Johnston, rower. 26 May: Brett Austin , breaststroke swimmer. 28 May: Eric Verdonk, rower. 17 June: Vivienne Gapes, skier. 20 August: David Howard, poet. 4 September: Robbie Deans , rugby player and coach. 14 September: Brendon Bracewell , cricketer. 27 September: Mark Inglis , mountaineer. 3 November: Vaughan Brown , cricketer. 12 December: George Keys, rower. Bianca van Rangelrooy , artist. Harry Sinclair , actor, filmmaker and musician.
Deaths
23 February: Gordon Wilson, Government architect. 8 April: Sir Bill Jordan, politician and diplomat. 8 June: George Dash, politician 7 November: Archie Fisher, painter. 8 November: Walter William Massey, MP and politician 6 December (in Scotland): Edward Hunter a.k.a. Billy Banjo, trade unionist, politician and writer.