The following lists events that happened during 1963 in New Zealand.
Population
Estimated Population as of 31 December: 2,566,900. Increase since 31 December 1962: 51,100 (2.03%). Males per 100 Females: 100.8.
Incumbents
Regal and Vice Regal
Head of State – Elizabeth II
Governor-General – Brigadier Sir Bernard Fergusson GCMG GCVO DSO OBE.
Government
The 33rd New Zealand Parliament concluded and a general election was held on 30 November. This saw the National Party returned with the loss of one seat to have a majority of 10 seats. Speaker of the House – Ronald Algie. Prime Minister – Keith Holyoake Deputy Prime Minister – Jack Marshall. Minister of Finance – Harry Lake. Minister of Foreign Affairs – Keith Holyoake. Attorney-General – Ralph Hanan. Chief Justice — Sir Harold Barrowclough
Parliamentary opposition
Leader of the Opposition – Walter Nash (Labour) until 31 March, then Arnold Nordmeyer (Labour).
Main centre leaders
Mayor of Auckland – Dove-Myer Robinson
Mayor of Hamilton – Denis Rogers
Mayor of Wellington – Frank Kitts
Mayor of Christchurch – George Manning
Mayor of Dunedin – Stuart Sidey
Events
6 February – Elizabeth II arrives in New Zealand on the Royal Yacht Britannia for the 1963 Royal Tour of New Zealand. 7 February – 15 people killed in a bus crash due to brake failure in the Brynderwyn Hills in Northland. 4 April – BOAC launches New Zealand's first jet-powered air service between Auckland Whenuapai and London Heathrow using the De Havilland Comet. The route takes 37.5 hours, with stops in Sydney, Darwin, Singapore, Rangoon or Calcutta, Karachi, Beirut or Damascus, and Rome or Düsseldorf. 17 April – Tauranga becomes a city. 3 July – New Zealand National Airways Corporation Flight 441 crashes into the Kaimai Ranges, killing all 23 aboard. 7 December – Two people are killed in the Bassett Road machine gun murders.
Arts and literature
Maurice Shadbolt wins the Robert Burns Fellowship.
See 1963 in art, 1963 in literature
Music
See: 1963 in music
Radio and Television
There are 80,000 television licences issued, and an estimated 300,000 television viewers in New Zealand. Broadcast relay stations at Mount Te Aroha, Wharite Peak and Otahoua are commissioned, extending television coverage to Waikato, Tauranga, Manawatu and Wairarapa.
See: 1963 in New Zealand television, 1963 in television, List of TVNZ television programming, :Category:Television in New Zealand, :Category:New Zealand television shows, Public broadcasting in New Zealand
Film
See: :Category:1963 film awards, 1963 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, :Category:1963 films
Sport
Athletics
Jeff Julian wins his first national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:22:52 on 9 March in Hawera.
Chess
The 70th National Chess Championship is held in Christchurch. The title is shared by Ortvin Sarapu and R.J. Sutton, both of Auckland.
Horse racing
Harness racing
New Zealand Trotting Cup – Cardigan Bay
Auckland Trotting Cup – Cardigan Bay (2nd win)
Lawn bowls
The national outdoor lawn bowls championships are held in Wellington. Men's singles champion – A. Govorko (Ngongotaha Bowling Club) Men's pair champions – S.W. Jolly, J.N.S. Flett (skip) (Point Chevalier Bowling Club) Men's fours champions – J.D. Scott, N. Cash, J. Coltman, Bill O'Neill (skip) (Carlton Bowling Club)
Soccer
The Chatham Cup was won by North Shore United who beat Nomads of Christchurch 3–1 in the final. Provincial league champions: Auckland: North Shore United Bay of Plenty: Kahukura Buller: Millerton Rangers Canterbury: Nomads Franklin: Manurewa AFC Hawke's Bay: Napier Rovers Manawatu: Thistle Marlborough: Woodbourne Nelson: Rangers Northland: Otangarei United Otago: King Edward Technical College OB Poverty Bay: Eastern Union South Canterbury: Northern Hearts Southland: Invercargill Thistle Taranaki: Moturoa Waikato: Hamilton Wanderers Wairarapa: Lansdowne United Wanganui: Wanganui United Wellington: Diamond West Coast: Cobden-Kohinoor The second (and last) Rothmans Cup (see 1962) was won by North Shore United.