1887 in New Zealand

Incumbents

Regal and viceregal

• Head of State – Queen Victoria
• Governor – Lieutenant-General Sir William Jervois.

  Government and law

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

  Main centre leaders

• Mayor of Auckland – Albert Devore
• Mayor of Christchurch – Aaron Ayers
• Mayor of Dunedin – Richard Henry Leary followed by William Dawson
• Mayor of Wellington – Samuel Brown

  Events

Sport

Athletics">Athletics New Zealand">Athletics

• 1 October – A. G. Sheath, with Shot Put, at Napier, makes the first performance to be recognised as a national record.

  Horse racing

Major race winners

• New Zealand Cup – Lochiel
• New Zealand Derby – Maxim
• Auckland Cup – Moved to 1888
• Wellington Cup – Pasha

  Lawn bowls

National Champions

• Singles – S. Manning

  Rowing">Rowing New Zealand">Rowing

Rugby Union">New Zealand Rugby Union">Rugby Union

Shooting

Tennis

New Zealand championships

• Men's singles – P. Fenwicke
• Women's singles – M. Lance
• Men's doubles – P. Fenwicke and M. Fenwicke
• Women's doubles – M. Way and W. Lance
• Mixed doubles – ?. Hudson and K. Hitchings

  Births

• 17 March: Mary Patricia Anderson, politician.
• 31 March: Mary Dreaver, politician.
• 14 May: Owen Merton, painter.
• 1 September : Harold Caro, Mayor of Hamilton.

  Deaths

• 25 February: James Macandrew, politician.
• June 1887 - Te Mamaku, Māori chief