1954 in New Zealand

• Head of State – Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand, from 6 February 1952
• Governor-General – Lieutenant-General The Lord Norrie GCMG GCVO CB DSO MC, from 1952–1957[2]

The 30th New Zealand Parliament expired this year. The National Party was elected to a third term in office under Sidney Holland on 13 November.

• Speaker of the House – Matthew Oram from 1950 to 1957
• Prime Minister – Sidney Holland from 13 December 1949 to 20 September 1957.
• Deputy Prime Minister – Keith Holyoake from 13 December 1949 to 20 September 1957.
• Minister of Finance – Sidney Holland until November, followed by Jack Watts
• Minister of Foreign Affairs – Clifton Webb from 19 September 1951 to 26 November 1954, followed by Tom Macdonald
• Chief Justice — Sir Harold Barrowclough

• Leader of the Opposition – Walter Nash (Labour).[3]

• Mayor of Auckland – John Luxford from 1953–1956
• Mayor of Hamilton – Roderick Braithwaite from 1953–1959
• Mayor of Wellington – Robert Macalister from 1950–1956
• Mayor of Christchurch – Robert M. Macfarlane from 1938–1941 and again from 1950–1958
• Mayor of Dunedin – Leonard Morton Wright from 1950–1959

See: 1954 in music

• 2 January – First radio episode of It's in the Bag, hosted by Selwyn Toogood[7]

See: Public broadcasting in New Zealand

• The Seekers

See: Category:1954 film awards, 1954 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, Category:1954 films

20 February: Yvette Williams breaks the world long jump record by jumping 20 feet 7½ inches (6.28 metres) at Gisborne.[8]

Edwin Rye wins his first national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:35:45 on 6 March in Hamilton, New Zealand.

• The 61st National Chess Championship is held in Wellington, and is won by Ortvin Sarapu of Auckland (his third successive title).[9]

• New Zealand Trotting Cup – Johnny Globe[10]
• Auckland Trotting Cup – Caduceus[11]

The national outdoor lawn bowls championships are held in Christchurch.[12]

• Men's singles champion – Robin Andrew (Onehunga Bowling Club)
• Men's pair champions – N.A. McNabb, C.L. Spearman (skip) (Christchurch RSA Bowling Club)
• Men's fours champions – J. Rothwell, H.L. Rule, W. O'Neill, Pete Skoglund (skip) (Otahuhu Bowling Club)

• The All Blacks played four Test Matches on a tour of Europe:[13]
  • 9 January, Lansdowne Road, Dublin: New Zealand 14 – 3 Ireland
  • 30 January, Twickenham, London: New Zealand 5 – 0 England
  • 13 February, Murrayfield, Edinburgh New Zealand 3 – 0 Scotland
  • 27 February, Stade Colombes, Paris: New Zealand 0 – 3 France

• The national men's team undertook a 10-match tour of Australia, which included 3 internationals. They played one warm-up match prior to the tour.[14]
  • 31 July, Wellington: NZ 6 – 0 Wellington
  • 3 August, Adelaide: NZ 3 – 2 South Australia
  • 7 August, Adelaide: NZ 3 – 1 Australian XI
  • 11 August, Melbourne: NZ 1 – 2 Victoria
  • 14 August, Melbourne: NZ 2 – 1 Australia
  • 18 August, Granville: NZ 0 – 3 Granville
  • 21 August, Sydney: NZ 4 – 1 New South Wales Benge (2), Charlton, Olley
  • 25 August, Brisbane: NZ 2 – 2 Queensland Smith, Steele
  • 28 August, Brisbane: NZ 1 – 4 Australia'
  • 29 August, Newcastle: NZ 1 – 1 Northern Districts Smith
  • 4 September, Sydney: NZ 1 – 4 Australia
  • 5 September, Bulli: NZ 4 – 4 South Coast
• The Chatham Cup is won by Onehunga who beat Western of Christchurch 1–0 in the final.[15]
• Provincial league champions:[16]
  • Auckland: North Shore United
  • Bay of Plenty: Mangakino Utd
  • Buller: Millerton Thistle
  • Canterbury: Western
  • Hawke's Bay: Hastings Wanderers
  • Manawatu: Palmerston North United
  • Nelson: Settlers
  • Northland: Otangarei United
  • Otago: Northern
  • Poverty Bay: Eastern Union
  • South Canterbury: Northern Hearts
  • Southland: Brigadiers
  • Taranaki: Old Boys
  • Waikato: Huntly Thistle
  • Wanganui: New Settlers
  • Wellington: Stop Out