1932 in New Zealand

January–February

• 1 January – Vinka Lucas, fashion designer and retailer, magazine founder (died 2020)
• 3 January – Stanley James, cricketer (died 2002)
• 6 January – Eunice Eichler, midwife, open adoption advocate (died 2017)
• 9 January – Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan, politician (died 2011)
• 13 January – Mervyn Edmunds, cricketer (died 2015)
• 18 January – Jock Butterfield, rugby league player (died 2004)
• 20 January – Mervin Sandri, cricketer (died 2016)
• 23 January – Ann Trotter, historian (died 2022)
• 28 January – Keith Roberts, rugby league player and coach (died 2015)
• 31 January – Derek Quigley, politician
• 16 February – Daphne Robinson, cricketer (died 2008)
• 19 February – Ray La Varis, politician (died 1986)
• 20 February – Ann Ballin, psychologist, victims' rights advocate (died 2003)

March–April

• 1 March – Ranginui Walker, academic, writer (died 2016)
• 4 March – William Norman, cricketer (died 2009)
• 8 March – Pat O'Connor, Roman Catholic priest (died 2014)
• 9 March – Les McNichol, rugby league player (died 2013)
• 10 March – Fred Gerbic, politician (died 1995)
• 15 March – Roger Green, archaeologist (died 2009)
• 16 March – Frank Albrechtsen, association footballer
• 19 March – Ernest Wainscott, cricket umpire
• 24 March – Peter Jones, rugby union player (died 1994)
• 2 April – Joan Fear, painter (died 2022)
• 3 April – John Hooker, novelist (died 2008)
• 13 April – Robert Long, cricketer (died 2010)
• 20 April – Farquhar Wilkinson, cellist (died 2022)

May–June

• 1 May – Keith Mann, fencer, sports administrator (died 2021)
• 5 May – John Cunneen, Roman Catholic bishop (died 2010)
• 7 May – Krystyna Tomaszyk, writer, social activist (died 2020)
• 12 May – Tom Kneebone, cabaret performer, actor (died 2003)
• 13 May
  • Jan Anderson, plant scientist (died 2015)
  • Thomas Flaws, cricketer (died 2021)
• 21 May – Binney Lock, journalist, newspaper editor (died 2014)
• 23 May
  • Jack Foster, athlete (died 2004)
  • David Stenhouse, biologist, philosopher (died 2013)
• 29 May – Paddy McFarlane, association footballer (died 2013)
• 1 June – Frank Cameron, cricketer (died 2023)
• 4 June – Maurice Shadbolt, writer (died 2004)
• 7 June – Arapera Hineira Kaa Blank, poet, teacher (died 2002)
• 12 June – June Kerr, ballerina (died 2018)
• 23 June – Bob Blair, cricketer

July–August

• 3 July – Gordon Challis, poet (died 2018)
• 4 July – Ron Horsley, rugby union player (died 2007)
• 5 July – Robert Webster, virologist
• 1 August – Hector Busby, traditional navigator and waka builder (died 2019)
• 2 August
  • Pat Hanly, painter (died 2004)
  • W. H. McLeod, historian (died 2009)
• 7 August – Robin Ferrier, organic chemist (died 2013)
• 20 August – Joseph Churchward, graphic designer, typographer (died 2013)
• 22 August – Barbara van den Broek, architect, landscape architect (died 2001)
• 27 August – John Watkinson, soil scientist (died 2017)
• 31 August – William Frame, cricketer (died 1965)

September–October

• 4 September – David McIntyre, historian (died 2022)
• 6 September – Ross Jansen, politician, mayor of Hamilton (1977–1989) (died 2010)
• 2 October – Roger Gibbs, swimmer (died 2012)
• 5 October – Barbara Goodman, politician, political hostess (died 2013)
• 17 October – C. K. Stead, academic, writer
• 23 October – Brenda Duncan, cricketer(
• 29 October – Alan Preston, association footballer, cricketer (died 2014)

November–December

• 5 November – Guy Bowers, rugby union player (died 2000)
• 8 November – John Hastie, cricket umpire
• 10 November – Tony Ciprian, broadcaster (died 2015)
• 13 November – Kāterina Mataira, Māori language advocate, teacher, artist, writer (died 2011)
• 15 November – John Lasher, rugby league player, sailor (died 2015)
• 17 November
  • Winifred Griffin, swimmer (died 2018)
  • Donald MacLeod, cricketer (died 2008)
• 1 December – Heather Begg, opera singer (died 2009)
• 4 December – Ian Brackenbury Channell, Wizard of New Zealand
• 6 December – Paul Reeves, Anglican archbishop, Governor-General (1985–1990) (died 2011)
• 7 December – Norman Kingsbury, educational administrator (died 2019)
• 23 December – Bill Gray, rugby union player (died 1993)
• 27 December – Donald Gemmell, rower (died 2022)

Exact date unknown

• Bob Brockie, biologist, cartoonist
• Titewhai Harawira, Maori activist (died 2023)

January–March

• 14 January – Frank Wells, cricketer (born 1871)
• 30 January – Edward Walter, politician (born 1866)
• 9 February – Charles Wilson, newspaper editor, politician, librarian (born 1857)
• 19 February – Ernest Lee, politician (born 1862)
• 17 March – Mary Gertrude Banahan, Roman Catholic nun, teacher (born c. 1856)

April–June

• 5 April – Phar Lap, Thoroughbred racehorse (foaled 1926)
• 12 April – Henry Stronach, cricketer (born 1865)
• 16 April – Rutherford Waddell, Presbyterian minister, social reformer, writer (born c. 1851)
• 19 April – Dame Christina Massey, community leader, political hostess (born 1863)
• 5 May – Gloaming, Thoroughbred racehorse (foaled 1915)
• 16 May – William Pember Reeves, politician, historian, poet, social reformer (born 1857)
• 30 May – Hori Pukehika, woodcarver, Te Ati Haunui-a-Pāpārangi leader (born c. 1847)
• 24 June
  • Edward Henry Clark, politician (born 1870)
  • Tuiti Makitanara, politician (born 1874)

July–September

• 17 July – Sidney Luttrell, architect, building contractor (born 1872)
• 3 August – William Bock, engraver, lithographer, medal and stamp designer, publisher (born 1847)
• 20 August – John Cunningham, cricketer (born 1854)
• 2 September – Hester Maclean, nurse, journal editor (born 1859)
• 4 September – Bert Palmer, rugby union player (born 1901)
• 10 September – Hugh Valentine, politician (born 1848)
• 15 September – Frederick Allsop, politician (born 1865)

October–December

• 5 October – George Carter, politician (born 1864)
• 6 October – Alex Wilson, rugby union player (born 1874)
• 17 October
  • Lewis Allen, rugby union player (born 1870)
  • George Black, politician (born 1903)
• 23 October – Ernest Currie, rugby union player, cricketer (born 1873)
• 16 November – William Nelson, farmer, industrialist (born 1843)
• 22 November – Helen Nicol, suffragist, temperance campaigner (born 1854)
• 24 November – Isabella Fraser, hospital matron (born 1857)
• 10 December – William Butler, sawmiller, timber merchant (born 1858)
• 11 December – James Horn, politician (born 1855)
• 21 December – Harold Livingstone Tapley, politician (born 1875)