The following lists events that happened during 1909 in New Zealand. Incumbents Regal and viceregal Head of State – Edward VII Governor – The Lord Plunket GCMG KCVO Government The 11th New Zealand Parliament commenced. Speaker of the House – Sir Arthur Guinness Prime Minister – Joseph Ward Minister of Finance – Joseph Ward Attorney-General – John Findlay Chief Justice – Sir Robert Stout Parliamentary opposition Leader of the Opposition – William Massey (independent until February and thereafter as leader of the Reform Party) Main centre leaders Mayor of Auckland – Arthur Myers then Charles Grey Mayor of Wellington – Alfred Newman Mayor of Christchurch – Charles Allison Mayor of Dunedin – John McDonald then James Walker Events 1 January: The Quackery Prevention Act 1908 becomes law, preventing false advertising in relation to ingredients, composition, structure, nature or operation of a medicine. 12 February: Inter-island steamer SS Penguin is wrecked at Cape Terawhiti in Cook Strait with the loss of 75 lives. 14 February: The first North Island Main Trunk passenger express train leaves Auckland for Wellington, an overnight trip scheduled to take 19 hours 15 minutes, with a sleeping car, day cars with reclining seats, postal/parcels vans, and a dining car for part of the way. Undated The Canterbury (NZ) Aero Club, the first in New Zealand, is formed by George Bolt. Arts and literature See 1909 in art, 1909 in literature, :Category:1909 books Music See: 1909 in music Film See: 1909 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, :Category:1909 films Sport Boxing National amateur champions Heavyweight – M. Ryan (Invercargill) Middleweight – S. Monaghan (Ohakune) Welterweight – G. Watchorn (Palmerston North) Lightweight – J. Finnerty (Invercargill) Featherweight – J. Hagerty (Timaru) Bantamweight – C. Stewart (Timaru) Cricket Chess The 22nd National Chess Championship was held in Dunedin, and was won by F.K. Kelling of Wellington. Golf The third New Zealand Open championship was won by J.A. Clements (his second consecutive win). The 17th National Amateur Championships were held in Auckland Men: Arthur Duncan (Wellington) – 6th title Women: Mrs ? Bevan. Horse racing Harness racing New Zealand Trotting Cup: Wildwood Junior Auckland Trotting Cup: Havoc Rugby league New Zealand national rugby league team Rugby union Auckland defend the Ranfurly Shield only once, beating Taranaki 18-5 Soccer Provincial league champions: Auckland: Auckland Corinthians Canterbury: Burnham Industrial School Otago: Dunedin City Southland: Murihiku Taranaki: Kaponga