← 1897 1896 1895 1898 in New Zealand → 1899 1900 1901
Decades:	1870s 1880s 1890s 1900s 1910s
See also:	History of New Zealand List of years in New Zealand Timeline of New Zealand history

The following lists events that happened during 1898 in New Zealand.

Incumbents

Regal and viceregal

• Head of State – Queen Victoria
• Governor – The Earl of Ranfurly GCMG^[1]

Government and law

The 13th New Zealand Parliament continues with the Liberal Party in power.

• Speaker of the House – Sir Maurice O'Rorke
• Prime Minister – Richard Seddon
• Minister of Finance – Richard Seddon
• Chief Justice – Hon Sir James Prendergast

Parliamentary opposition

Leader of the Opposition – William Russell.^[2]

Main centre leaders

• Mayor of Auckland – Peter Dignan followed by David Goldie
• Mayor of Christchurch – Walter Cooper followed by Charles Louisson
• Mayor of Dunedin – Edward Bowes Cargill followed by William Swan
• Mayor of Wellington – John Rutherford Blair

Events

• 1 December: W H Bartlett films the opening of the Auckland Industrial and Mining Exhibition. The film is screened on Christmas Eve at Bartlett's studio – the first public screening of a New Zealand film.^[3]

Arts and literature

Music

Sport

Athletics

National Champions, Men:^[4]

• 100 yards – George Smith (Auckland)
• 250 yards – Alfred J. Patrick (Wellington)
• 440 yards – R. Oliphant (Auckland)
• 880 yards – H. C. Garsia (Canterbury)
• 1 mile – S. Pentecost (Canterbury)
• 3 miles – S. Pentecost (Canterbury)
• 120 yards hurdles – Arthur H. Holder (Wanganui)
• 440 yards hurdles – George Smith (Auckland)
• Long jump – Alan Good (Wanganui)
• High jump – Hugh Good (Wanganui)
• Pole vault – Hori Eruera (Auckland)
• Shot put – Hugh Good (Wanganui)
• Hammer throw – J. Skinner (Auckland)

Chess

National Champion:

1. R.J. Barnes of Wellington. (Played over new year 1897/98)
2. R.A. Cleland of Dunedin (played December 1898)^[5]

Cricket

Golf

The National Amateur Championships were held in Christchurch^[6]

• Men – W. Pryde (Hutt)
• Women – K. Rattray (Otago)

Horse racing

Harness racing

• Auckland Trotting Cup (over 2 miles) is won by Duke C.^[7]

Thoroughbred racing

• New Zealand Cup – Tirant D’eau
• New Zealand Derby – Altair
• Auckland Cup – Uhlan - the first horse-race to be filmed in New Zealand
• Wellington Cup – Uniform

Season leaders (1897/98)

• Top New Zealand stakes earner – Multiform
• Leading flat jockey – W. Brown

Lawn Bowls

National Champions^[8]

• Singles – W. McIlwrick (Dunedin)
• Pairs – C. Nicholson and W. McLaren (skip) (Kaitangata)
• Fours – W. Cowie, C. Fynmore, M. Sinclair and A. Gillies (skip) (Dunedin)

Polo

• Savile Cup winners – Oroua

Rowing

National Champions (Men)

• Single sculls – J. McGrath (Otago)
• Double sculls – Otago
• Coxless pairs – Wellington
• Coxed fours – Picton

Rugby union

Provincial club rugby champions include:

see also Category:Rugby union in New Zealand

Shooting

Ballinger Belt – Private J. McGregor (Oamaru Rifles)

Soccer

Provincial league champions:^[9]

• Auckland: Auckland United
• Otago: Wakari Dunedin
• Wellington: Wellington Rovers

Swimming

National champions (Men)

• 100 yards freestyle – A. Truscott (Canterbury)
• 440 yards freestyle – C. Rich (Canterbury)

Tennis

National champions

• Men's singles – J. Hooper
• Women's singles – Kathleen Nunneley
• Men's doubles – H. Parker and C. Gore
• Women's doubles – Kathleen Nunneley and E. Kennedy

Births

• 8 October: George Davidson, Olympic sprinter.^[10]

Deaths

• 2 January: John Cargill, politician (born 1821).
• 3 May: John Kerr, politician (born 1830).
• 29 June: Charles Parker, politician (born 1809).
• 15 July: Francis Dillon Bell, politician (born 1822).
• 31 October: William Gilbert Rees, explorer and settler (born 1827).
• 25 November: William Downie Stewart, politician (born 1842).^[11]
• 29 November: Thomas Forsaith, politician (born 1814).