← 1916 1915 1914 1917 in New Zealand → 1918 1919 1920
Decades:	1890s 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s
See also:	History of New Zealand List of years in New Zealand Timeline of New Zealand history

The following lists events that happened during 1917 in New Zealand.

• Head of State – George V
• Governor – Arthur Foljambe, 2nd Earl of Liverpool, until 28 June^[1]
• Governor-General – Arthur Foljambe, 2nd Earl of Liverpool, from 28 June^[2]

• 
  George V
• 
  Lord Liverpool

The 19th New Zealand Parliament continues as a grand coalition led by the Reform Party. The general election due this year is deferred because of World War I.

• Speaker of the House – Frederic Lang (Reform Party)
• Prime Minister – William Massey (Reform Party)
• Minister of Finance – Joseph Ward

• 
  Frederic Lang
• 
  William Massey
• 
  Joseph Ward

• Leader of the Opposition – Joseph Ward (Liberal Party). Ward retains the title even though he is part of the coalition government.^[3]

• 
  Joseph Ward

• Chief Justice – Sir Robert Stout

• 
  Robert Stout

• Mayor of Auckland – James Gunson
• Mayor of Wellington – John Luke
• Mayor of Christchurch – Henry Holland
• Mayor of Dunedin – James Clark

• 
  James Gunson
• 
  John Luke
• 
  Henry Holland
• 
  James Clark

• April – The first Caudron^[4] biplane purchased by Henry Wigram for the Canterbury Aviation Company arrives.^[5]
• 1 May – The New Zealand Rifle Brigade (Earl of Liverpool's Own) is formed as the 3rd Brigade of the New Zealand Division, part of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force.
• 7 May – Cecil McKenzie Hill makes the first flight for the Canterbury Aviation Company.^[5]
• June – Pilot training by the Canterbury Aviation Company commences at Sockburn.^[6]
• 24 September – Ten New Zealand soldiers are killed in England in the Bere Ferrers rail accident.
• 20 October – 850 New Zealand soldiers are killed in the Second Battle of Passchendaele, the greatest loss of life in a single day in the military history of New Zealand.
• 1 December – Six o’clock closing of hotel bars is introduced as a wartime measure.^[7]

Undated

• "Extraordinary and continuous rainfall" throughout the year causes "enormous damage to roads and bridges", and "the country became waterlogged", according to the Public Works Statement.^[8]
• The West Coast Times, established in 1865, is merged into the Hokitika Guardian and Star.^[9]

See 1917 in art, 1917 in literature, Category:1917 books

See: 1917 in music

See: Category:1917 film awards, 1917 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, Category:1917 films

• The New Zealand Open championship and National Amateur Championships are not held due to the war.^[10]

• New Zealand Trotting Cup – Adelaide Direct^[11]
• Auckland Trotting Cup – Steel Bell (2nd win)^[12]

• New Zealand Cup – Meelaus^[13]
• Auckland Cup – Fiery Cross^[13]
• Wellington Cup – Bunting^[13]
• New Zealand Derby – Estland^[13]

The national outdoor lawn bowls championships are held in Wellington.^[14]

• Men's singles champion – C.R. Ingram (Wellington Bowling Club)
• Men's pair champions – A. Sawyer, J.J. Martin (skip) (Turanganui Bowling Club)
• Men's fours champions – J.S. Ryrie, A.R. Coltman, W. Coltman, G.S. Osmond (skip) (Auckland Bowling Club)

• The Ranfurly Shield (held by Wellington) is not contested as interprovincial matches are cancelled due to the war.

• Provincial league champions:^[15]
  • Auckland – Brotherhood
  • Canterbury – Linwood
  • Hawke's Bay – Waipukurau
  • Otago – Northern
  • Southland – No competition
  • Wanganui – No competition
  • Wellington – No competition

• History of New Zealand
• List of years in New Zealand
• Military history of New Zealand
• Timeline of New Zealand history
• Timeline of New Zealand's links with Antarctica
• Timeline of the New Zealand environment