1971 in New Zealand

The following lists events that happened during 1971 in New Zealand.

Population

 * Estimated population as of 31 December: 2,898,500.
 * Increase since 31 December 1970: 46,400 (1.63%).
 * Males per 100 females: 99.7.

Regal and viceregal

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

Government
The 36th Parliament of New Zealand continued, 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 until 2 February, then Dan Riddiford.
 * 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 then Neville Pickering
 * Mayor of Dunedin – Jim Barnes

April

 * The Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter starts production.

August

 * 29 August – The nation's first Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) restaurant opens in Royal Oak, Auckland, beginning a decade of American fast food chains being established in New Zealand.

September

 * The Manapouri Power Station, the country's largest hydroelectric facility, is completed. It wouldn't export any electricity until April 1972 when transmission lines to Invercargill were completed.

October

 * 25 October – The Christchurch to Dunedin overnight express becomes the last revenue steam locomotive-hauled train service, as the New Zealand Railways completes dieselisation.

Arts and literature

 * Noel Hilliard wins the Robert Burns Fellowship.

See 1971 in art, 1971 in literature

New Zealand Music Awards

 * Loxene Golden Disc Craig Scott – Smiley
 * Loxene Golden Disc Chapta – Say A Prayer

See: 1971 in music

Performing arts

 * Benny Award presented by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand to Pat McMinn OBE.

Radio and television

 * In 1971 there was a major breakthrough for international news when the Warkworth Satellite station was opened.
 * The Melbourne Cup was the first live international broadcast, in November.
 * The radio licence fee was abolished, and the television fee set at NZ$20 per year.
 * Feltex Television Awards:
 * Best Programme: Gallery and In View of the Circumstances
 * Best Actor: Bruno Lawrence in Time Out
 * Best Performance as Frontman: Brian Edwards in Post Office Dispute
 * Best Entertainment: Dinah Lee
 * TVPDA Award for Allied Crafts: Waynne Williams

See: 1971 in New Zealand television, 1971 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:1971 film awards, 1971 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, Category:1971 films

Athletics

 * David McKenzie wins his third national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:17:16.4 on 6 March in Invercargill.

Chess

 * The 78th National Chess Championship is held in Nelson, and is won by R.J. Sutton of Auckland (his second title).

Harness racing

 * New Zealand Trotting Cup: True Averil
 * Auckland Trotting Cup: Garcon Roux

Soccer

 * New Zealand National Soccer League won by Eastern Suburbs AFC
 * The Chatham Cup is won by Western Suburbs FC of Wellington who beat Wellington City 3–2 in the final.

Births
Category:1971 births
 * 23 January: Adam Parore, cricketer.
 * 5 March: Cory Hutchings, surf livesaving and ironman competitor.
 * 29 March: Julie Seymour, netball player.
 * 11 April: Mark Cooksley, rugby union player.
 * 12 April: Greg Russ, field hockey player.
 * 28 April: Hamish Carter, triathlete.
 * 2 June: Dion Gosling, field hockey player.
 * 11 June: Mark Richardson, cricketer
 * 18 June: Blair Pocock, cricketer.
 * 20 June: Josh Kronfeld, rugby union player.
 * 25 June: Paul Gibbons, pole vaulter.
 * 9 August: Jon Toogood, musician, songwriter.
 * 15 August: Umesh Parag, field hockey player.
 * 18 August: Jonathan Winter, swimmer.
 * 24 August: Heremaia Ngata, soccer player.
 * 27 August: Glen Osborne, rugby union player.
 * 15 September: Nathan Astle, cricketer.
 * 18 September: Tom Larkin, musician.
 * 20 September: Todd Blackadder, rugby union player.
 * 8 October: Marc Ellis, rugby union and rugby league player, television personality.
 * 20 October: Rachel House, actress and comedian
 * 25 October: Martin Leslie, rugby union player.
 * 31 October: Phil Tataurangi, golfer.
 * 20 November: Dion Nash, cricketer.
 * 30 November: Heath Davis, cricketer.
 * 13 December: Vaughan Coveny, soccer player.
 * 20 December: Simon O'Neill, opera singer.
 * 24 December: Geoff Allott, cricketer.

Deaths

 * 16 January: Harold Abbott, rugby union player.
 * 12 March: Robert Laidlaw, businessman.
 * 28 March: Miriam Soljak, feminist and activist
 * 24 June: Jack Dunning, cricketer.
 * 13 July: R. A. K. Mason, poet.
 * 19 September: Ted Badcock, cricketer.
 * 10 October: John Cawte Beaglehole, historian and biographer.
 * 15 December: Air Marshall Roderick Carr
 * 22 December: Mary Grigg, politician.