The following lists events that happened during 1923 in New Zealand.

Incumbents

Regal and viceregal

Head of State A head of state (or chief of state) is the public persona who officially embodies a state Foakes, pp. 110–11 " he head of statebeing an embodiment of the State itself or representatitve of its international persona." in its unity and l ...

–

George V George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until Death and state funeral of George V, his death in 1936. Born duri ...

Governor-General Governor-general (plural ''governors-general''), or governor general (plural ''governors general''), is the title of an office-holder. In the context of governors-general and former British colonies, governors-general are appointed as viceroy t ...

– John Jellicoe, Viscount Jellicoe File:King George 1923 LCCN2014715558 (cropped).jpg, George V File:John Jellicoe medals.jpg, Viscount Jellicoe

Government

The

21st New Zealand Parliament The 21st New Zealand Parliament was a term of the New Zealand Parliament. It was elected at the 1922 general election in December of that year. 1922 general election The 1922 general election was held on Monday, 6 December in the Māori elect ...

begins. The Reform Party governs as a minority with the support of independents. *

Speaker of the House The speaker of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body, is its presiding officer, or the chair. The title was first used in 1377 in England. Usage The title was first recorded in 1377 to describe the role of Thomas de Hungerf ...

–

Charles Statham Sir Charles Ernest Statham (10 May 1875 – 5 March 1946) was a New Zealand politician, and the ninth Speaker of the House of Representatives, from 1923 to 1935. Private life He was born in Dunedin in 1875, and trained in law, practising in hi ...

(Independent) *

Prime Minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...

–

William Massey William Ferguson Massey (26 March 1856 – 10 May 1925), commonly known as Bill Massey, was a politician who served as the 19th prime minister of New Zealand from May 1912 to May 1925. He was the founding leader of the Reform Party, New Zea ...

Minister of Finance A finance minister is an executive or cabinet position in charge of one or more of government finances, economic policy and financial regulation. A finance minister's portfolio has a large variety of names around the world, such as "treasury", " ...

– William Massey *

Minister of External Affairs In many countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the government department responsible for the state's diplomacy, bilateral, and multilateral relations affairs as well as for providing support for a country's citizens who are abroad. The entit ...

–

Ernest Lee Ernest Page Lee (27 August 1862 – 19 February 1932) was a New Zealand lawyer and politician of the Reform Party. Early life Born in 1862 in Teignmouth, England, he received his education at Cheltenham and London. Aged 18, he started learning ...

until 13 January, then

Francis Bell Francis Bell may refer to: *Arthur Bell (martyr) (1590–1643), also known as Francis Bell, Franciscan and English martyr *Dillon Bell (Francis Dillon Bell; 1822–1898), New Zealand politician, father of the New Zealand Prime Minister *Francis Bel ...

from 7 June File:Charles Statham.jpg, Charles Statham File:William Ferguson Massey 1919.jpg, William Massey File:Ernest Lee.jpg, Ernest Lee File:Francis Bell.jpg, Francis Bell

Parliamentary opposition

Leader of the Opposition The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the largest political party not in government, typical in countries utilizing the parliamentary system form of government. The leader of the opposition is typically se ...

–

Thomas Wilford Sir Thomas Mason Wilford (20 June 1870 – 22 June 1939) was a New Zealand politician. He held the seats of Wellington Suburbs then Hutt continuously for thirty years, from 1899 to 1929. Wilford was leader of the New Zealand Liberal Party, and ...

( Liberal Party) File:Thomas Wilford, 1928.jpg, Thomas Wilford

Judiciary

* Chief Justice – Sir Robert Stout File:Robert Stout, ca 1919.jpg, Robert Stout

Main centre leaders

Mayor of Auckland The Mayor of Auckland is the directly elected head of the Auckland Council, the local government authority for the Auckland Region in New Zealand, which it controls as a unitary authority. The position exists since October 2010 after the amalga ...

–

James Gunson Sir James Henry Gunson (26 October 1877 – 12 May 1963) was a New Zealand businessman and Mayor of Auckland City from 1915 to 1925. He was knighted in 1924. W Gunson & Co Born and educated in Auckland, in his mid-twenties he took over W Gunson ...

* Mayor of Wellington – Robert Wright *

Mayor of Christchurch The Mayor of Christchurch is the head of the municipal government of Christchurch, New Zealand, and presides over the Christchurch City Council. The mayor is directly elected using a First Past the Post electoral system. The current mayor, Phil ...

–

Henry Thacker Henry Thomas Joynt Thacker (20 March 1870 – 3 May 1939) was a medical doctor, New Zealand Member of Parliament and Mayor of Christchurch. Early life Thacker was born in Okains Bay on Banks Peninsula on 20 March 1870. His parents were Essy Joyn ...

, succeeded by

James Flesher James Arthur Flesher (13 August 1865 – 18 August 1930) was a politician in Christchurch, New Zealand. He held many public offices and was Mayor of Christchurch from 1923 to 1925. Early life Flesher was born on 13 August 1865 in Christchurch. ...

Mayor of Dunedin The Mayor of Dunedin is the head of the local government, the city council of Dunedin, New Zealand. The Mayor's role is "to provide leadership to the other elected members of the territorial authority, be a leader in the community and perform c ...

– James Douglas, succeeded by

Harold Tapley Harold Livingstone Tapley (25 January 1875 – 21 December 1932) was a New Zealand politician of the Reform Party. Born in Semaphore, South Australia in 1875, Tapley emigrated to Dunedin in 1893. He represented Dunedin North in Parliament ...

File:James Gunson 1920 (cropped).jpg, James Gunson File:Robert Alexander Wright.jpg, Robert Wright File:Henry Thacker, 1918.jpg, Henry Thacker File:James Arthur Flesher.jpg, James Flesher File:James Sandilands Douglas.jpg, James Douglas File:Harold Tapley.jpg, Harold Tapley

Events

* 28 March – The Tauranga by-election is won by

Charles Edward MacMillan Charles Edward de la Barca MacMillan (December 1872 – 9 January 1941) was a New Zealand politician. He was Mayor of Tauranga (1915–1917) and a member of the House of Representatives (1923–1935). Early life MacMillan was born in Saint Croi ...

( Reform Party) * March – The inflation rate in New Zealand reaches its lowest recorded value, −15.3 per cent * 1 May – The Oamaru by-election is won by John MacPherson ( Liberal Party) * 14 June − The New Zealand Permanent Air Force, the forerunner of the

Royal New Zealand Air Force The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) ( mi, Te Tauaarangi o Aotearoa, "The Warriors of the Sky of New Zealand"; previously ', "War Party of the Blue") is the aerial service branch of the New Zealand Defence Force. It was formed from New Zeala ...

, is established * 6 July – The

Ongarue railway disaster The Ongarue railway disaster occurred on 6 July 1923 near the small settlement of Ongarue, near Taumarunui, North Island, New Zealand, when an overnight express ran into a landslip. Of the 200 passengers on board, 17 died and 28 were injured. T ...

results in the deaths of 17 passengers when the overnight Auckland-Wellington Express runs into a landslip at Ongarue near

Taumarunui Taumarunui is a small town in the King Country of the central North Island of New Zealand. It is on an alluvial plain set within rugged terrain on the upper reaches of the Whanganui River, 65 km south of Te Kuiti and 55 km west of ...

* 4 August – Opening of the

Otira Tunnel The Otira Tunnel is a railway tunnel on the Midland Line in the South Island of New Zealand, between Otira and Arthur's Pass. It runs under the Southern Alps from Arthur's Pass to Otira – a length of over . The gradient is mainly 1 in 33, and ...

on the Midland Line * 15 December – The British and Intercolonial Exhibition opens in Hokitika ;Undated * New Zealand gains the right to conduct its own trade negotiations independently of Britain * The Ross Dependency is claimed by Britain and placed under New Zealand administration * The

Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand Forest & Bird ( mi, Te Reo o te Taiao), also known by its formal name as the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand, is an environmental organisation specialising in the protection and conservation of New Zealand's indigenous f ...

is formed * The

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...

battlecruiser HMS ''New Zealand'', funded by the New Zealand government as a gift to Britain before

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, is broken up for scrap

Arts and literature

See

1923 in art Events from the year 1923 in art. Events * March 20 – The Arts Club of Chicago hosts the opening of Pablo Picasso's first United States show, ''Original Drawings by Pablo Picasso''. * May 8 – Göteborgs Konsthall opens as the art gallery f ...

1923 in literature This article contains information about the literary events and publications of 1923. For works published in the United States, this year is also significant because from January 1, 2019, these were the first in 20 years to enter the public doma ...

, :1923 books

Music

Production of the musical "

Tutankhamen Tutankhamun (, egy, wikt:twt-ꜥnḫ-jmn, twt-ꜥnḫ-jmn), Egyptological pronunciation Tutankhamen () (), sometimes referred to as King Tut, was an ancient Egypt, Egyptian pharaoh who was the last of his royal family to rule during the end ...

" by L.P.Leary at His Majesty's Theatre in Auckland. Music by Eric Waters. See:

1923 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1923. Specific locations * 1923 in British music * 1923 in Norwegian music Specific genres *1923 in country music * 1923 in jazz Events *February – Joseph Samuels' Tampa ...

Radio

*A set of Broadcasting regulations are issued under the Post And Telegraph Act 1920. Under the new regulations the country is divided into four numerical transmission regions. The regulations also stipulate that the owner of a receiving set is to pay an annual licence of five shillings while permission to transmit costs two pound

See:

Public broadcasting in New Zealand Public broadcasting in New Zealand is funded through New Zealand Government body New Zealand On Air, and consists of a number of television channels, radio stations, and websites. In addition to funding solely public media outlets, New Zealand On ...

Film

* The Romance of Sleepy Hollow See:

1923 in film The following is an overview of 1923 in film, including significant events, a list of films released and notable births and deaths. Top-grossing films (U.S.) The top seven films released in 1923 by U.S. gross are as follows: Events *April 4 � ...

List of New Zealand feature films This is a list of feature films and pre 1910 short films produced or filmed in New Zealand, ordered by year of release. Key * * = Funded in part by the New Zealand Film Commission. * † = Year given is date of principal photography rather th ...

Cinema of New Zealand Cinema may refer to: Film * Cinematography, the art of motion-picture photography * Film or movie, a series of still images that create the illusion of a moving image ** Film industry, the technological and commercial institutions of filmmaking * ...

, :1923 films

Sport

Chess

* The 32nd National Chess Championship is held in Christchurch, and is won by John Boyd Dunlop of Oamaru (his third title)

Cricket

* Plunket Shield

Football

* The inaugural competition for the Chatham Cup is won by Seacliff AFC (Otago) * The New Zealand team tours Australia, playing 16 matches: ** 24 May, at Granville – lose 1–3 vs Granville ** 26 May, at Sydney – draw 2–2 vs New South Wales ** 29 May, at Newcastle – lose 0–2 vs Newcastle ** 2 June, at Ipswich – win 4–2 vs Ipswich / West Moreton ** 4 June, at Brisbane – win 3–1 vs Queensland ** 6 June, at Nambour – win 2–0 vs North Coast ** 9 June, at Brisbane – lose 1–2 vs

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

** 13 June, at Cessnock – lose 1–2 vs South Maitland ** 16 June, at Sydney – win 3–2 vs Australia ** 20 June, at Sydney – win 3–4 vs Metropolis ** 23 June, at Sydney – win 3–1 vs Granville ** 25 June, at Sydney – draw 1–1 vs New South Wales ** 30 June, at Newcastle – win 4–1 vs Australia ** 3 July, at Weston – lose 1–4 vs South Maitland ** 7 July, at Wollongong – lose 0–2 vs South Coast ** 11 July, at Lithgow – win 4–0 vs Western Districts * Provincial league champions: ** Auckland – North Shore AFC (Devonport) ** Canterbury – Sunnyside ** Hawke's Bay – Whakatu ** Nelson – Athletic ** Otago – HSOB ** South Canterbury – Albion Rovers ** Southland – Nightcaps ** Taranaki – Hawera ** Wanganui – Eastown Workshops ** Wellington – Waterside

Golf

* The 10th

New Zealand Open The New Zealand Open is the premier men's golf tournament in New Zealand. It has been a regular fixture on the PGA Tour of Australasia tournament schedule since the 1970s. The 2019 event was the 100th edition of the tournament. Since 2014 it has ...

championship is won by A. Brooks. * The 27th National Amateur Championships are held in

Wanganui Whanganui (; ), also spelled Wanganui, is a city in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand. The city is located on the west coast of the North Island at the mouth of the Whanganui River, New Zealand's longest navigable waterway. Whangan ...

: ** Men – J. Goss (Wanganui) ** Women – E. Vigor Brown (Napier)

Horse racing

Harness racing

* New Zealand Trotting Cup – Great Hope *

Auckland Trotting Cup The Auckland Pacing Cup which is sometimes referred to as the Auckland Trotting Cup or merely the Auckland Cup is a race held at Alexandra Park in Auckland, New Zealand for Standardbred horses. It is one of the two major harness races, along with ...

– Blue Mountain King

Thoroughbred racing

New Zealand Cup The New Zealand Cup is a thoroughbred horse race run at the Riccarton Park Racecourse in Christchurch. New Zealand Cup week The New Zealand Cup is raced on the final Saturday of Christchurch "Cup week" held each year in the second week of Novem ...

– Rouen *

Auckland Cup The Auckland Cup is an annual race held by the Auckland Racing Club (ARC). It is an Open Handicap for thoroughbred racehorses competed on the flat turf over 3200 metres (two miles) at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand. The race was ...

– Te Kara / Muraahi (dead heat) *

Wellington Cup The Wellington Cup is a Group 3 Thoroughbred horse race in New Zealand held annually in late January at Trentham Racecourse in Trentham by the Wellington Racing Club. History Inaugurated in 1874, the Wellington Cup has been raced over various ...

– Rapine *

New Zealand Derby The New Zealand Derby is a set-weights Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds, run over a distance of 2,400 metres (12 furlongs) at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand. It is held on the first Saturday in March, as the opening day o ...

– Black Ronald * ARC Great Northern Derby – Enthusiasm

Lawn bowls

The national outdoor lawn bowls championships are held in Auckland. * Men's singles champion – M. Walker (Ponsonby Bowling Club) * Men's pair champions – W. McCallum, T. Edwards (skip) (Temuka Bowling Club) * Men's fours champions – R.S. Somervell, J.F. Hosking, V.P. Casey, A. Parsons (skip) (Ponsonby Bowling Club)

Rugby union

* A

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

team tours New Zealand, playing three matches against the New Zealand team. New Zealand wins all three: 19–9, 34–6 and 38–11. * defend the

Ranfurly Shield The Ranfurly Shield, colloquially known as the Log o' Wood, is a trophy in New Zealand's domestic rugby union competition. First played for in 1904, the Shield is based on a challenge system. The holding union must defend the shield in challeng ...

for the full season, defeating Wairarapa (6–0), (10–6), (15–0), (9–8),

Horowhenua Horowhenua District is a territorial authority district on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand, administered by Horowhenua District Council. Located north of Wellington and Kapiti, it stretches from slightly north of the town of ...

(38–11), and (20–5).Palenski, R. and Lambert, M. ''The New Zealand Almanac'', 1982. Moa Almanac Press.

Births

January–February

*2 January –

Joe McManemin Joseph de Valley McManemin (2 January 1923 – 5 August 2014) was a New Zealand athletics coach and sports administrator. Biography Born in Auckland in 1923, McManemin was educated at Auckland Grammar School and became a pharmacist, with a shop ...

, athletics coach, sports administrator * 6 January –

Norman Kirk Norman Eric Kirk (6 January 1923 – 31 August 1974) was a New Zealand politician who served as the 29th prime minister of New Zealand from 1972 until his sudden death in 1974. Born into poverty in Southern Canterbury, Kirk left school at ...

, politician * 11 January –

Charles Philip Littlejohn Charles Philip Littlejohn (11 January 1923 – 14 September 2014) was the eleventh Clerk of the New Zealand House of Representatives ("Clerk of the House"). As Clerk of the House he was head of the Legislative Department, responsible for admin ...

, parliamentary officer * 15 January –

Nick Unkovich Nikola Unkovich (15 January 1923 – 21 July 2005), generally known as Nick Unkovich, was a New Zealand international lawn bowler. Early life and family Unkovich was born in 1923 on the island of Korčula in present-day Croatia, and migrated to ...

, lawn bowls player * 27 January –

Robert Burchfield Robert William Burchfield CNZM, CBE (27 January 1923 – 5 July 2004) was a lexicographer, scholar, and writer, who edited the ''Oxford English Dictionary'' for thirty years to 1986, and was chief editor from 1971. Education and career Born in W ...

, lexicographer * 11 February – Bryce Rope, rugby union player and coach * 26 February – Jean Anderson, pianist and professor of music

March–April

* 1 March –

Stephen Jelicich Stephen Albert Jelicich (1 March 1923 – 19 December 2015) was a New Zealand architect and historian. Early life and family Born Stjepan Albert Jeličić on 1 March 1923 in Sućuraj, Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (present-day Republic ...

, architect, historian * 2 March **

Ron Elvidge Ronald Rutherford Elvidge (2 March 1923 – 30 March 2019) was a New Zealand rugby union player. A second five-eighth and centre, Elvidge represented Otago at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Black ...

, rugby union player ** Don Taylor, cricketer * 12 March – James Godwin, war crimes investigator * 13 March –

Travers Hardwick Travers Harry Hardwick (13 March 1923 – 25 April 1979) was a New Zealand rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played representative rugby league (RL) for New Zealand and coached them in the 1960 World Cup. Early years Har ...

, rugby league player and coach * 24 March –

Poul Gnatt Poul Rudolph Gnatt (24 March 1923 – 15 October 1995) was a Danish dancer and balletmaster active in New Zealand. Childhood Gnatt was born in Baden, Austria. His father was Kai Gnatt, flower merchant, and his mother Kaja Olsen, both fro ...

, ballet dancer and ballet master * 26 March – Ronald Dobson, rugby union player * 27 March – Donald Murdoch, cricketer * 31 March –

Lawrie Miller Lawrence Somerville Martin Miller (31 March 1923 – 17 December 1996) was a cricketer who played 13 matches of Test cricket for New Zealand between 1953 and 1958, and played Plunket Shield cricket for Central Districts and Wellington. Cricket ...

, cricketer * 6 April – Rina Moore, doctor * 7 April **

Lindsay Daen Lindsay Daen (1923–2001), was a New Zealand sculptor and artist who worked and resided in Puerto Rico. Daen created landmark sculptures in Puerto Rico, Australia and the United States. He was a member of the Royal Art Society in Sydney, whose a ...

, sculptor ** Russell Stone, historian * 14 April –

Stan Cowman Stanley Corbett Cowman (14 April 1923 – 2 February 2003) was a New Zealand cricket umpire. In his international umpiring career, he stood in two ODI games in 1983. He was also an honorary curator of the New Zealand Cricket Museum at the Ba ...

, cricket umpire * 16 April – Thomas Freeman, cricketer * 17 April –

Ken Mudford Ken Mudford (17 April 1923 – 17 May 2004) was a New Zealand professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He competed in the FIM motorcycle Grand Prix world championships from 1951 to 1953 and was a member of the New Zealand team that compet ...

, motorcycle racer * 18 April – Allan Deane, cricketer * 26 April – Harold Nelson, athlete * 29 April –

Jean Herbison Dame Jean Marjory Herbison (29 April 1923 – 20 May 2007) was a New Zealand academic, educator, researcher and Chancellor of the University of Canterbury. She was the first woman to hold the post of chancellor at a New Zealand university. Biog ...

, academic, university chancellor

May–June

* 17 May – Doug Ottley, association footballer * 26 May ** Bill Meates, rugby union player ** Thomas Paulay, earthquake engineer, academic * 4 June – Olga Stringfellow, journalist and author * 7 June – Peter Sutton, Anglican bishop * 19 June – Rex Orr, rugby union player * 25 June – Margaret Reid, Presbyterian minister * 30 June – Melvin Day, artist

July–August

* 8 July –

Margaret di Menna Margaret Elaine di Menna (8 July 1923 – 24 March 2014) was a New Zealand microbiologist. In 1954 she became the first woman to gain a Doctor of Philosophy degree from a New Zealand university. Her doctoral thesis at the University of Otago was ...

, microbiologist * 13 July – Max Lewis, cricketer * 14 July –

Noel Chambers Noel Reif Chambers (14 July 1923 – 22 November 1990) was a New Zealand swimmer who won a gold medal for his country at the 1950 British Empire Games. Chambers won five New Zealand national swimming titles: the 220 yards freestyle in 1946 and ...

, swimmer * 16 July **

Richard Bolt Richard Henry Bolt (April 22, 1911 – January 13, 2002) was an American physics professor at MIT with an interest in acoustics. He was one of the founders of the company Bolt, Beranek and Newman, which built the ARPANET, a forerunner of the In ...

, air force officer ** Terry Harris, water polo player * 18 July ** John Morton, marine zoologist, theologian, conservationist **

JJ Stewart John Joseph Stewart (18 July 1923 – 15 November 2002), generally known as JJ Stewart, was a New Zealand rugby union coach and administrator, and secondary school teacher. His obituary said that in 1973 when he took over as All Blacks coach, he ...

, rugby union coach and administrator, politician * 26 July – Betty Gilderdale, children's author * 28 July –

Bill Sevesi Wilfred Jeffs (28 July 1923 – 23 April 2016), better known by the stage name Bill Sevesi, was a musician and master of the steel guitar who helped popularise Hawaiian-style music in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. Tongan-born Sevesi c ...

, musician * 9 August – Bob Neilson, rugby league player * 11 August –

Roy Roper Roy Alfred Roper (11 August 1923 – 14 September 2023) was a New Zealand rugby union player. A Rugby union positions#Three-quarters, three-quarter, Roper represented Taranaki Rugby Football Union, Taranaki at a provincial level, and was a memb ...

, rugby union player * 12 August –

Janet Holm Janet Rutherford Holm (née Morse, 12 August 1923 – 14 July 2018) was a New Zealand environmental activist and historian. Biography Holm was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1923 and grew up on a farm near Waiau in North Canterbury. Sh ...

, environmental activist, historian * 14 August – Jack Luxton, politician * 15 August – Norm Jones, politician * 28 August – Maurice Casey, jurist

September–October

* 9 September –

Des Christian Desmond Lawrence Christian (9 September 1923 – 30 August 1977) was a New Zealand rugby union player and coach. A number 8 and prop, Christian represented Auckland at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the A ...

, rugby union player and coach * 19 September –

Bob Sorenson Robert Gordon Sorenson (19 September 1923 – 25 May 2016) was a New Zealand rugby union player and coach, and a cricketer. Rugby union A fullback, Sorenson represented at a provincial level between 1942 and 1949, appearing in 40 matches and s ...

, rugby union player and coach, cricketer * 29 September – Vernon McArley, cricketer * 3 October – Jack McLean, rugby union and rugby league player * 4 October –

Lachie Grant Lachlan Ashwell Grant (4 October 1923 – 27 April 2002) was a New Zealand rugby union player. Born in Temuka, Grant is regarded as that town's finest rugby product. A flanker and lock, Booth represented at a provincial level, and was a membe ...

, rugby union player * 9 October **

Bob Fenton William Robert Fenton (9 October 1923 – 10 January 2013), known as Bob Fenton, was a New Zealand politician of the National Party. Biography Fenton was born on 9 October 1923 at Napier, and was educated at Hastings High School. He served ...

, politician **

Ronald Tremain Albert Ronald Tremain (9 October 1923 – 17 July 1998) was a New Zealand composer and music teacher. Biography Born in Feilding, New Zealand in 1923, Tremain initially studied piano, gaining Trinity College diplomas before graduating with his fir ...

, composer, music academic * 11 October – Ed Nichols, alpine skier * 15 October **

Joyce Carpenter Joyce Constance Gladys Helleur (née Carpenter, 15 October 1923 − 9 June 2016) was a New Zealand diver, who represented her country at the 1950 British Empire Games. Early life and diving career Born Joyce Constance Gladys Carpenter, Helleur ...

, diver ** Jim McCormick, rugby union player * 18 October – Rob Talbot, politician * 20 October – Mike Minogue, politician * 29 October ** David Kear, geologist, science administrator **

Ted Thorne Ted Thorne (John “Ted” Thorne) (October 16, 1929 in Detroit, Michigan – April 3, 2007, in Michigan City, Indiana), at 17 became the youngest sports editor of a daily newspaper in the state of Indiana, the '' News-Dispatch'' in Michigan C ...

, naval officer

November–December

* 1 November – Peter Mahon, jurist * 4 November –

Joan Hatcher Joan Constance Hatcher (4 November 1923 – 24 September 2006) was a New Zealand cricketer who played as a right-handed Batting (cricket), batter. She appeared in four Women's Test cricket, Test matches for New Zealand women's national cricket te ...

, cricketer * 5 November – Frederick Stanley, cricketer * 9 November –

Marion Robinson Marion Frances Robinson (née Harrison; 9 November 1923 – 25 February 2003) was a New Zealand nutritionist and physiologist. She was professor of nutrition at the University of Otago, and is particularly noted for her investigation of the imp ...

, physiologist and nutritionist * 10 November –

Brian Ashby Brian Patrick Ashby (10 November 1923 – 5 June 1988) was the fifth Catholic Bishop of Christchurch, New Zealand. He was appointed by Pope Paul VI on 11 July 1964, resigned the see on 4 July 1985, and died on 5 June 1988. He was the leading Ne ...

, Roman Catholic bishop * 11 November –

Sonja Davies Sonja Margaret Loveday Davies (née Vile; 11 November 1923 – 12 June 2005) was a New Zealand trade unionist, peace campaigner, and Member of Parliament. On 6 February 1987, Davies was the third appointee to the Order of New Zealand."The O ...

, trade unionist, peace activist, politician * 13 November –

Austen Gittos Austen John Gittos (13 November 1923 – 7 December 1986) was a New Zealand fencer who won a silver medal at the 1950 British Empire Games. Biography Born at Onehunga on 13 November 1923, Gittos was the son of Benjamin Frank Gittos and Gladys ...

, fencer * 17 November ** Dick Scott, historian, journalist ** Bert Sutcliffe, cricketer * 18 November –

Neville Pickering Neville George Pickering (18 November 1923 – 25 June 1988) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party. Biography Early life Pickering was born in Hāwera in 1923. He was educated at Hamilton Technical College where he was also keen s ...

, politician * 20 November –

Robert Harwood Robert William de Lotbinière-Harwood (October 27, 1826 – June 29, 1897) was a landowner and political figure in Lower Canada and Quebec. He represented Vaudreuil (electoral district), Vaudreuil in the House of Commons of Canada as a Libe ...

, cricketer * 22 November –

Guy Doleman Guy Doleman (22 November 1923 – 30 January 1996) was a New Zealand born actor, active in Australia, Britain and the United States. Early life Doleman was born in Hamilton, Waikato, New Zealand, later moving to Australia. Career During the 1 ...

, actor * 28 November – Eric Heath, cartoonist * 2 December – Andy Keyworth, master mariner * 6 December –

Karl Sim Karl Feoder Sim, also known as Carl Feoder Goldie (6 December 1923 – 21 October 2013) was a New Zealand art forger, and the only person convicted of that crime in New Zealand. Early life Sim was born in Mangaweka in the Manawatū-Whanganui re ...

, art forger * 13 December – Richard Campion, theatre director * 14 December – Bob Quickenden, association footballer * 17 December – John Darwin, statistician * 20 December – Arthur Mills, cricketer * 24 December – Bert Cook, rugby union and rugby league player

Deaths

January–March

* 9 January – Katherine Mansfield, writer (born 1888) * 14 January – Frederick Radcliffe, photographer (born 1863) * 28 January –

Alfred Holdship Alfred Richardson Holdship (15 October 1867 – 28 January 1923) was a New Zealand cricketer who played first-class cricket from 1893 to 1899. He was the second captain of the New Zealand cricket team. Education Born in Auckland, Holdship was ...

, cricketer (born 1867) * 6 February –

William Thomas Jennings William Thomas Jennings (1854 – 6 February 1923) was a Liberal Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand. Early life He was born in Auckland, where he attended St. Paul's school and subsequently became an apprentice printer in the offices of ...

, politician (born 1854) * 22 February – Sir

William Herries Sir William Herbert Herries (19 April 1859 – 22 February 1923) was an English-born New Zealand politician. Biography Herries was born in London, the son of Herbert Crompton Herries, a barrister, and his wife, Leonora Emma Wickham. His gr ...

, politician (born 1859) * 17 March – Daniel Cooper, convicted baby farmer and illegal abortionist (born 1881) * 25 March – John Patterson, politician, businessman (born 1855) * 26 March – William Wescombe Corpe, sawmiller, dairy manufacturer (born 1836)

April–June

* 3 April **

Charles H. Mills Charles Houghton Mills (1843 – 3 April 1923) was a member of parliament for Waimea and Wairau, in the South Island of New Zealand. Early life Mills was born in Nelson. His father was Richard Mills, who arrived in Nelson in 1841 on the ''Lo ...

, politician (born 1843) ** Arthur Seymour, politician (born 1832) * 4 April – Charles Curtis, storekeeper, local-body politician (born 1850) * 12 April ** William Collins, politician (born 1853) ** Randell McDonnell, cricketer (born 1843) * 27 April – Gordon Millington, cricketer (born 1848) * 7 May –

Walter Dinnie Walter Dinnie (26 December 1850 – 7 May 1923) was a New Zealand police commissioner, private detective and land board chairman. He was born on 26 December 1850. References 1850 births 1923 deaths New Zealand police officers {{Ne ...

, police commissioner (born 1850) * 9 May – John Fuller, singer and theatrical company manager (born 1850) * 21 May –

Leopold Prime This is a sortable list of characters and toys in the ''Beast Wars'' franchise, part of the larger Transformers franchise, from Hasbro. This includes characters appearing in an animated series, comics or video games. This does not include cha ...

, cricketer (born 1884)

July–September

* 8 July – Henry Lawson, cricketer (born 1862) * 16 July – Sir

William Fraser William Fraser may refer to: Military people *William W. Fraser (1844–1915), American Civil War soldier and Medal of Honor recipient *William Archibald Kenneth Fraser (1886–1969), British army officer *William Fraser (British Army officer) ( ...

, politician (born 1840) * 27 July – William Dawson, brewer, politician (born 1852) * 3 August – Frederick Fulton, cricketer (born 1859) * 8 September – Thomas Mahoney, architect (born 1854) * 23 September – Sarah Higgins, midwife, writer (born 1830) * 26 September –

Hoani Te Whatahoro Jury Hoani Turi Te Whatahoro Jury (4 February 1841–26 September 1923) was a New Zealand Ngāti Kahungunu scholar, recorder and interpreter. He was born in Wairarapa, New Zealand on 4 February 1841. His mother was Te Aitu-o-te-rangi Jury and his f ...

, Ngāti Kahungunu scholar, recorder, interpreter (born 1841)

October–December

* 8 October – Angus Stuart, rugby union player (born 1858) * 15 October – Thomas Frederic Cheeseman, botanist (born 1846) * 17 October – William Meares, cricketer (born 1848) * 10 November –

John Stallworthy John Stallworthy (1854 – 10 November 1923) was a Liberal Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand. He was a teacher, newspaper editor, and sawmiller's trade union leader. He was born in Samoa in 1854; his father George was a member of th ...

, politician (born 1854) * 11 November – Robert Murdoch, malacologist (born 1861) * 25 November –

Sydney Callaway Sydney Thomas Callaway (6 February 1868 – 25 November 1923) was an Australian cricketer who played in three Test matches, all of them against England in Australia in the 1890s. He was born at Redfern, New South Wales in 1868. In 1891/92 he pl ...

, cricketer (born 1868) * 29 November – Gilbert Mair, soldier, interpreter, public servant (born 1843) * 11 December –

Joseph Maddison Joseph Clarkson Maddison (26 February 1850 – 11 December 1923) was a New Zealand architect. He trained as an architect in his native London and came to Canterbury at the age of 22. At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, ...

, architect (born 1850) * 14 December – Michael Godby, cricketer (born 1850)

References

External links

Events of the Past Year
as compiled by ''The New Zealand Herald'' {{DEFAULTSORT:1923 in New Zealand 1923 in New Zealand,