← 1888 1887 1886 1889 in New Zealand → 1890 1891 1892
Decades:	1860s 1870s 1880s 1890s 1900s
See also:	History of New Zealand List of years in New Zealand Timeline of New Zealand history

The following lists events that happened during 1889 in New Zealand.

Incumbents

Regal and viceregal

• Head of State – Queen Victoria
• Governor – The term of Lieutenant-General Sir William Jervois ends on 23 March. The Earl of Onslow takes up the position of Governor on 2 May.

Government and law

The 10th New Zealand Parliament continues.

• Speaker of the House – Maurice O'Rorke.
• Premier – Harry Atkinson.
• Minister of Finance – Harry Atkinson.
• Chief Justice – Hon Sir James Prendergast

Parliamentary opposition

Leader of the Opposition – John Ballance (Liberal Party).^[1] This is the first year in which there is a recognised opposition leader.

Main centre leaders

• Mayor of Auckland – Albert Devore followed by John Upton
• Mayor of Christchurch – Charles Louisson
• Mayor of Dunedin – Hugh Gourley followed by John Roberts
• Mayor of Wellington – John Duthie

Events

• 21 January – American "Professor" Baldwin makes the first balloon ascent in New Zealand at Dunedin.^[2]
• 2 December – The S.S. Alice, the first mechanically powered vessel on the Rotorua Lakes, is launched.^[3][4]

Arts and literature

Reputedly the first science fiction novel written by a New Zealander, Anno Domini 2000, or, Woman's Destiny by former Premier Julius Vogel is published.

Sport

Athletics

National Champions, Men

• 100 yards – T. Lewis (Hawkes Bay)
• 250 yards – H. Reeves (Canterbury)
• 440 yards – H. Reeves (Canterbury)
• 880 yards – P. Cox (Southland)
• 1 mile – F. Ellis (Hawkes Bay)
• 120 yards hurdles – Harold Batger (Wellington)
• Long jump – Leonard Cuff (Canterbury)
• High jump – T. McNaught (Otago)

Chess

National Champion: Arthur Ollivier, of Christchurch^[5]

Horse racing

Major race winners

• New Zealand Cup – Tirailleur
• New Zealand Derby – Scots Grey
• Auckland Cup – Leopold
• Wellington Cup – Dudu

Lawn bowls

National Champions

• Singles – H. Toomer (Canterbury)
• Fours – M. Elliott, P. Dow, W. Allnutt and W. Carlton (skip) (Roslyn)

^[6]

Polo

The Christchurch Polo Club is formed.^[7]

Rowing

Coxless pairs and Double sculls are held at the championships for the first time.

National Champions (Men)

• Single sculls – T. McKay (Wellington)
• Double sculls – Wellington
• Coxless pairs – Wellington
• Coxed fours – Wellington

Rugby union

Provincial club rugby champions include:

see also Category:Rugby union in New Zealand

Shooting

Ballinger Belt – Sergeant Parslow (Auckland)

Swimming

Tennis

After this year the mixed doubles championship are not held again held until 1900.

New Zealand championships

• Men's singles – P. Fenwicke
• Women's singles – E. Gordon
• Men's doubles – Richard Harman and Frederick Wilding
• Women's doubles – K. Hitchings and E. Gordon
• Mixed doubles – Frederick Wilding and E. Gordon

Births

• 27 February: Melville Lyons, politician
• 19 June: Cora Louisa Burrell, politician (MLC).

Deaths

• 26 July: Thomas Gillies, politician
• 26 July: Arthur Fulton, engineer
• 10 December: Robert Campbell, politician
• 13 December: Sarah Greenwood, artist