1970 in New Zealand

The following lists events that happened during 1970 in New Zealand.

Population

 * Estimated population as of 31 December: 2,852,100.
 * Increase since 31 December 1969: 48,100 (1.72%).
 * Males per 100 females: 99.9.

Regal and viceregal

 * Head of State – Elizabeth II
 * Governor-General – Sir Arthur Porritt Bt GCMG GCVO CBE.

Government
The 36th Parliament of New Zealand commenced, with the second National government in power.
 * Speaker of the House – Roy Jack.
 * Prime Minister – Keith Holyoake
 * Deputy Prime Minister – Jack Marshall.
 * Minister of Finance – Robert Muldoon.
 * Minister of Foreign Affairs – Keith Holyoake.
 * Attorney-General – Jack Marshall.
 * Chief Justice — Sir Richard Wild

Parliamentary opposition

 * Leader of the Opposition –  Norman Kirk (Labour).

Main centre leaders

 * Mayor of Auckland – Dove-Myer Robinson
 * Mayor of Hamilton – Mike Minogue
 * Mayor of Wellington – Frank Kitts
 * Mayor of Christchurch – Ron Guthrey
 * Mayor of Dunedin – Jim Barnes

Events

 * 15 January – Police and anti-Vietnam War protestors clash outside the Intercontinental Hotel in Auckland, where visiting U.S. Vice-president Spiro Agnew is staying.
 * 20 July – Christchurch is awarded the hosting rights to the 1974 British Commonwealth Games.
 * The North Island natural gas network is commissioned following the completion of the Kapuni gas treatment plant. Natural gas is initially available in Auckland, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Hawera, Wanganui, Palmerston North, Levin and Wellington.

Arts and literature

 * Edward Middleton wins the Robert Burns Fellowship.

See 1970 in art, 1970 in literature, Category:1970 books

New Zealand Music Awards
The winners in the New Zealand Music Awards were
 * Loxene Golden Disc SOLOIST AWARD Craig Scott – Lets Get A Little Sentimental
 * Loxene Golden Disc GROUP AWARD  Hogsnort Rupert – Pretty Girl

See: 1970 in music

Performing arts

 * Benny Award presented by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand to Howard Morrison and Oswald Astley Cheesman.

Radio and Television

 * The Feltex Television Awards begin.
 * Best Arts: Green Gin Sunset
 * Best Light Entertainment: The Alpha Plan
 * Public Affairs: Gallery for Brian Edwards' interview with Christiaan Barnard.
 * Best Documentary: Three Score Years and Then
 * Professional (TVPDA award): David Gardner
 * Radio Hauraki granted the first commercial licence in New Zealand breaking the government monopoly of the radio airwaves.

See: 1970 in New Zealand television, 1970 in television, List of TVNZ television programming, Category:Television in New Zealand, Category:New Zealand television shows, Public broadcasting in New Zealand

Film
See: Category:1970 film awards, 1970 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, Category:1970 films

Sport

 * See: 1970 in sports, Category:1970 in sports ,

Athletics

 * Jeff Julian wins his fourth national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:24:32 on 7 March in Napier.

Chess

 * The 77th National Chess Championship is held in Auckland, and is won by Ortvin Sarapu of Auckland (his 11th title).

Harness racing

 * New Zealand Trotting Cup: James
 * Auckland Trotting Cup: Stella Frost

Shooting

 * Ballinger Belt – Maurie Gordon (Okawa)

Soccer

 * Establishment of the New Zealand National Soccer League
 * Blockhouse Bay are the first National Soccer Champions.
 * The Chatham Cup is won by Blockhouse Bay, who beat Western Suburbs FC (Wellington) 3–2 in a replay after the final ended at 2–2 after extra time.
 * Northern League premier division (Thompson Shield) – Mount Albert
 * Central League first division – Waterside
 * Southern League first division – Christchurch Technical
 * Promoted to NSL for 1971: Mount Albert-Ponsonby (following a merger) and Caversham (runners up in Southern League, as Christchurch Technical were connected to Christchurch United).

Births

 * 10 January: Katherine Dienes, organist and composer
 * 12 January: Brett Leaver, field hockey player
 * 13 February: Metiria Turei, politician
 * 8 April: Catherine Chidgey, novelist
 * 4 May: Paul Wiseman, cricketer
 * 12 May: Katrina Shanks, politician
 * 20 May: David Smail, golfer
 * 13 June: Chris Cairns, cricketer
 * 20 June: Maia Lewis, cricketer
 * 19 July: Christopher Luxon, politician
 * 9 August: Deborah Morris, politician
 * 13 August: Glenn Jonas, cricketer
 * 21 August: Nanaia Mahuta, politician
 * 7 September: Guy Callaghan, butterfly swimmer
 * 22 September: Hitro Okesene, rugby league player
 * 5 October: Cal Wilson, comedian and broadcaster (d. 2023)
 * 19 October: Whetu Taewa, rugby league player
 * 27 October (in Samoa): Alama Ieremia, rugby player
 * 5 November: Andrew Hastie, field hockey player
 * 3 December: Karen Smith, field hockey player
 * 5 December:
 * Matthew Horne, cricketer
 * Simon Power, politician
 * 26 December: Danielle Cormack, actress
 * Nicola Kawana, actress

Deaths
Category:1970 deaths
 * 27 January: Rita Angus, painter.
 * 28 February: Brian Hewat, politician.
 * 2 June: Bruce McLaren, racing driver and car designer.
 * 24 June: Tiaki Omana, politician.
 * 1 October: Reginald Bedford Hammond, surveyor, architect, town planner and senior public servant
 * Philip Connolly, politician.
 * Sir Charles Cotton, geologist.
 * Hon. Jack Watts, politician.