The following lists events that happened during 1919 in New Zealand. Incumbents Regal and viceregal Head of State – George V Governor-General – Arthur Foljambe, 2nd Earl of Liverpool Government The 19th New Zealand Parliament concludes. The election held in November sees the Reform Party returned with an increased majority (47 of the 80 seats). Women are eligible to stand for Parliament for the first time. Speaker of the House – Frederic Lang (Reform Party) Prime Minister – William Massey (Reform Party) Minister of Finance – Joseph Ward until 21 August, then James Allen Parliamentary opposition Leader of the Opposition – Joseph Ward (Liberal Party). Judiciary Chief Justice – Sir Robert Stout Main centre leaders Mayor of Auckland – James Gunson Mayor of Wellington – John Luke Mayor of Christchurch – Henry Holland then Henry Thacker Mayor of Dunedin – James Clark then William Begg Events January – George Bolt ascends to a record height of . 1 February – Cecil McKenzie Hill, chief instructor for the Canterbury Aviation Company, is killed in an air accident while flying over Riccarton Racecourse. This is the first aircraft fatality in New Zealand. 4 February – New Zealand Rifle Brigade (Earl of Liverpool's Own) disbanded. 31 May – George Bolt flies from Auckland to Russell in a Boeing and Westervelt floatplane. The distance of is a record for a flight in New Zealand. 16 December – George Bolt makes the first experimental airmail flight in New Zealand. He flies from Auckland to Dargaville and back again on the same day, a total distance of approximately . 16–17 December – The 1919 general election is held. December – The Ministry of External Affairs is established, with James Allen as the first minister. Arts and literature See 1919 in art, 1919 in literature, :Category:1919 books Music See: 1919 in music Film See: :Category:1919 film awards, 1919 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, :Category:1919 films Sport See: 1919 in sports, :Category:1919 in sports Chess The National Chess championship was not held (the influenza epidemic was still subsiding at its traditional new year dates). Cricket Plunket Shield: 25–29 December, Hagley Oval, Christchurch: Canterbury defeated Wellington by 7 wickets. See 1920 in New Zealand#Cricket for remaining matches in this Plunket Shield competition. Football Provincial league champions: Auckland – North Shore Canterbury – Linwood, Excelsior (shared) Hawke's Bay – Waipukurau Otago – Northern