The following lists events that happened during 1926 in New Zealand. Population The 1926 New Zealand census is held on 20 April. Incumbents Regal and viceregal Head of State – George V Governor-General – Sir Charles Fergusson Government The 22nd New Zealand Parliament continues with the Reform Party governing. Speaker of the House – Charles Statham Prime Minister – Gordon Coates Minister of Finance – William Nosworthy until 24 May, then William Downie Stewart Minister of External Affairs – Francis Bell until 18 January, then from 24 May William Nosworthy Parliamentary opposition Leader of the Opposition – vacant until 26 June, then Harry Holland (Labour Party) Judiciary Chief Justice – Sir Robert Stout, then Charles Skerrett from 1 February Main centre leaders Mayor of Auckland – George Baildon Mayor of Wellington – Charles Norwood Mayor of Christchurch – John Archer Mayor of Dunedin – Harold Tapley Events 15 April – The Eden by-election is won by Rex Mason (Labour). As a result, Labour became the dominant party in opposition, with 12 seats compared to the Liberals' 11. 15 November – The Balfour Declaration asserts the right of New Zealand and other dominions to exist as independent countries 3 December – Nine miners die in an explosion in the Dobson coal mine near Brunner Undated Writer and adventurer Zane Grey first visits New Zealand, helping to popularise big-game fishing Department of Scientific and Industrial Research is established Pavlova reportedly created by a Wellington hotel chef in honour of the visit of Anna Pavlova Ash eruption of Red Crater, Mount Tongariro Leonard Cockayne publishes the first part of Monograph on New Zealand beech forests, which argues that the forests could be managed with a rotation of 80–120 years, but warns about overgrazing by deer Arts and literature See 1926 in art, 1926 in literature, :Category:1926 books Music See: 1926 in music Radio See: Public broadcasting in New Zealand Film See: 1926 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, :Category:1926 films Sport Chess The 35th National Chess Championship is held in Dunedin, and is won by S. Crakanthorp of Sydney, his second title Cricket New Zealand, along with India and the West Indies, is admitted to the Imperial Cricket Conference, increasing the number of test playing nations to six Football The Chatham Cup is won by Sunnyside (Christchurch) Provincial league champions: Auckland – Tramways Canterbury – Sunnyside Hawke's