1991 in New Zealand

The following lists events that happened during 1991 in New Zealand.

Population

 * Estimated population as of 31 December: 3,516,000.
 * Increase since 31 December 1990: 40,900 (1.18%) Note that there is a discontinuity between the 1990 and 1991 figures as Statistics NZ switched from using the de facto population concept to estimated resident population.
 * Males per 100 Females: 99.7

Regal and viceregal

 * Head of State – Elizabeth II
 * Governor-General – The Hon Dame Catherine Anne Tizard, GCMG, GCVO, DBE, QSO

Government
The 43rd New Zealand Parliament continued. Government was The National Party, led by Jim Bolger. National controlled nearly seventy percent of the seats in Parliament.


 * Speaker of the House – Robin Gray
 * Prime Minister – Jim Bolger
 * Deputy Prime Minister – Don McKinnon
 * Minister of Finance – Ruth Richardson
 * Minister of Foreign Affairs – Don McKinnon
 * Chief Justice — Sir Thomas Eichelbaum

Parliamentary opposition

 * Leader of the Opposition – Mike Moore (Labour).
 * NewLabour Party – Jim Anderton

Main centre leaders

 * Mayor of Auckland – Les Mills
 * Mayor of Hamilton – Margaret Evans
 * Mayor of Wellington – Jim Belich
 * Mayor of Christchurch – Vicki Buck
 * Mayor of Dunedin – Richard Walls

January

 * 2 January: description

April

 * 17 April: Prime Minister Jim Bolger stated, "We intend to keep New Zealand nuclear-free this term, next term, and the term after that."

July

 * 22 July The Resource Management Act 1991 passes into law after a third reading speech by Simon Upton.

October

 * 1 October The Resource Management Act 1991 commences

Arts and literature

 * Lynley Hood wins the Robert Burns Fellowship.

See 1991 in art, 1991 in literature, Category:1991 books

Performing arts

 * Benny Award presented by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand to Debbie Dorday.

Radio and television

 * CanWest takes management control of TV3.

See: 1991 in New Zealand television, 1991 in television, List of TVNZ television programming, Category:Television in New Zealand, TV3 (New Zealand), Category:New Zealand television shows, Public broadcasting in New Zealand

Film

 * A Soldier's Tale
 * Chunik Bair
 * Grampire
 * Old Scores
 * Te Rua
 * The End of the Golden Weather

See: Category:1991 film awards, 1991 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, Category:1991 films

Internet
See: NZ Internet History

Athletics

 * Paul Herlihy wins his first national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:13:34 on 2 March in New Plymouth, while Lee-Ann McPhillips claims her first in the women's championship (2:40:12).

Harness racing

 * New Zealand Trotting Cup – Christopher Vance
 * Auckland Trotting Cup – Christopher Vance

Shooting

 * Ballinger Belt –
 * Graeme Berman (Australia)
 * Geoffrey Smith (Malvern), second, top New Zealander

Soccer

 * The Chatham Cup is won by Christchurch United who beat Wellington United 2–1 in the final.

January

 * 1 January – Peter Burling, sailor
 * 3 January – Joe Kayes, water polo player
 * 4 January – Olivia Tennet, actor
 * 5 January – Shane Savage, Australian rules footballer
 * 7 January
 * Stephen Shennan, rugby union player
 * Ben Smith, cricketer
 * 13 January – Mako Vunipola, rugby union player
 * 16 January – James Lentjes, rugby union player
 * 17 January
 * Kate Chilcott, road cyclist
 * Slade Griffin, rugby league player
 * Brad Weber, rugby union player
 * 27 January
 * Beth Chote, actor
 * Sebastine Ikahihifo, rugby league player
 * 28 January
 * Jordan Kahu, rugby league player
 * Mike Kainga, rugby union player
 * 29 January – Luke Whitelock, rugby union player
 * 30 January
 * Mitchell Graham, rugby union player
 * Matthew Wright, rugby league player

February

 * 2 February
 * Caitlin Campbell, association footballer
 * Solomona Sakalia, rugby union player
 * 3 February – Lima Sopoaga, rugby union player
 * 7 February – Ben Murdoch-Masila, rugby league player
 * 14 February – Michael Bracewell, cricketer
 * 15 February - Matt McEwan, cricketer
 * 16 February – Francis Saili, rugby union player
 * 18 February
 * Danielle Hayes, fashion model
 * Stacey Michelsen, field hockey player
 * 19 February – Ethan Mitchell, track cyclist
 * 20 February – Julia Edward, rower

March

 * 2 March – Mitchell Scott, rugby union player
 * 4 March – Sue Maroroa, chess player
 * 12 March
 * Alofa Alofa, rugby union player
 * Jed Brown, rugby union player
 * 14 March
 * Taylor Gunman, road cyclist
 * Kurt Pickard, BMX racer
 * 16 March – Michael Barry, cricketer
 * 17 March – Dylan Dunlop-Barrett, swimmer
 * 19 March – Colin Murphy, association footballer
 * 20 March – Liam Squire, rugby union player
 * 22 March
 * Jordan Grant, field hockey player
 * Amy McIlroy, lawn bowls player
 * 23 March – Jenny Hung, table tennis player
 * 25 March – Ryan Duffy, cricketer
 * 26 March – Courteney Lowe, road cyclist
 * 30 March – Jono Hickey, cricketer and rugby union player
 * 31 March – Codie Taylor, rugby union player

April

 * 1 April
 * Graham Candy, singer-songwriter
 * Iopu Iopu-Aso, rugby union player
 * 2 April
 * Kara Pryor, rugby union player
 * Brad Shields, rugby union player
 * 4 April – Sam Meech, sailor
 * 6 April – Paratene McLeod, basketball player
 * 9 April – Dominic Bird, rugby union player
 * 10 April - Kirsten Pearce, field hockey player
 * 17 April – Augusta Xu-Holland, actor
 * 20 April – Daniel Hawkins, rugby union player
 * 26 April – Isaac Liu, rugby league player
 * 27 April – Dylan Collier, rugby union and rugby league player
 * 29 April – Steven Luatua, rugby union player
 * 30 April – Brett Hampton, cricketer

May

 * 2 May – Patrick Bevin, road cyclist
 * 3 May – Hannah Wall, association footballer
 * 5 May – Joel Faulkner, rugby union player
 * 7 May – Kenny Ardouin, cleft lip and palate community advocate
 * 8 May – Waisake Naholo, rugby union player
 * 9 May
 * Sosaia Feki, rugby league player
 * Harriet Miller-Brown, alpine skier
 * 10 May – Gareth Anscombe, rugby union player
 * 11 May – Tony Ensor, rugby union player
 * 12 May
 * Elizabeth Chuah Lamb, high jumper
 * Greg Pleasants-Tate, rugby union player
 * 15 May – Matt Moulds, rugby union player
 * 20 May – Daryl Mitchell, cricketer
 * 24 May – Ian McPeake, cricketer
 * 25 May
 * Maritino Nemani, rugby union player
 * James Raideen, professional wrestler
 * 27 May
 * Beauden Barrett, rugby union player
 * Kayla Pratt, rower
 * 31 May – Brodie Retallick, rugby union player

June

 * 3 June
 * Sarah McLaughlin, association footballer
 * Ava Seumanufagai, rugby league player
 * 4 June
 * Matt McIlwrick, rugby league player
 * Ben Stokes, cricketer
 * 5 June – Chloe Tipple, sports shooter
 * 7 June – Amanda Landers-Murphy, squash player
 * 9 June – Ben Lam, rugby union player
 * 11 June – Nepo Laulala, rugby union player
 * 13 June – Lachie Ferguson, cricketer
 * 19 June – Zoe Stevenson, rower
 * 23 June – Mikhail Koudinov, gymnast
 * 25 June – Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, rugby union player
 * 26 June – Dakota Lucas, association footballer

July

 * 1 July
 * Annalie Longo, association footballer
 * Ruby Muir, endurance athlete
 * 7 July – Matt Hewitt, surfer
 * 12 July – Portia Woodman, rugby union player
 * 16 July – Sam Webster, track cyclist
 * 20 July
 * Jarrad Butler, rugby union player
 * Sam Lousi, rugby league and rugby union player
 * 24 July – Derone Raukawa, basketball player
 * 27 July – Ricky Wells, speedway rider
 * 28 July – Priyanka Xi, actor
 * 31 July – Tony Lamborn, rugby union player

August

 * 2 August
 * Tom Bruce, cricketer
 * Rob Thompson, rugby union player
 * 5 August
 * Gareth Evans, rugby union player
 * Konrad Hurrell, rugby league player
 * Robert Loe, basketball player
 * 13 August – Michael Cochrane, athlete
 * 16 August – Angie Smit, athlete
 * 22 August - Kenny Bromwich, rugby league player
 * 29 August – Samantha Harrison, field hockey player
 * 30 August – Ben Tameifuna, rugby union player

September

 * 2 September – Adam Henry, rugby league player
 * 4 September – Chevannah Paalvast, basketball player
 * 5 September – Nepia Fox-Matamua, rugby union player
 * 9 September – Adam Ling, rower
 * 11 September – Rebecca Sinclair, snowboarder
 * 13 September – Lee Allan, rugby union player
 * 14 September – Ryan De Vries, association footballer
 * 16 September – Luke Rowe, association footballer
 * 19 September – Owen Ivins, cricketer
 * 23 September – Cardiff Vaega, rugby union player
 * 26 September – Look Who's Talking, thoroughbred racehorse
 * 29 September – Stefi Luxton, snowboarder

October

 * 5 October – Gareth Kean, swimmer
 * 7 October – Stefan Marinovic, association footballer
 * 12 October – Nabil Sabio Azadi, artist
 * 15 October – Mandy Boyd, lawn bowls player
 * 19 October – Michael Allardice, rugby union player
 * 22 October – Levi Sherwood, freestyle motocross rider
 * 26 October – Blair Soper, cricketer
 * 27 October – Il Vicolo, standardbred racehorse
 * 28 October – Duane Bailey, basketballer
 * 29 October – Parris Goebel, dancer, choreographer and actor
 * 31 October – Charles Piutau, rugby union player

November

 * 5 November – Marco Rojas, association footballer
 * 6 November – Matt Faddes, rugby union player
 * 10 November - Ben Wheeler, cricketer
 * 11 November – Kate Broadmore, cricketer
 * 13 November – David Light, boxer
 * 15 November – Henry Nicholls, cricketer
 * 20 November – Tim Simona, rugby league player
 * 21 November – Peni Terepo, rugby league player
 * 22 November – Michael Vink, cyclist
 * 24 November – Richie Stanaway, motor racing driver
 * 27 November – Brooke Duff, singer-songwriter

December

 * 1 December – Richard Moore, motor racing driver
 * 3 December – Jarrod Firth, rugby union player
 * 7 December
 * Samantha Charlton, field hockey player
 * Chris Wood, association footballer
 * 11 December – Kahurangi Taylor, beauty pageant contestant
 * 13 December – Ruby Tui, rugby sevens player
 * 14 December
 * Ben Henry, rugby league player
 * Matt Henry, cricketer
 * 22 December – Paul Alo-Emile, rugby union player

Exact date unknown

 * Holly Cassidy, beauty pageant contestant
 * Annah Mac, singer-songwriter

January–March

 * 4 January – Vernon Sale, cricketer (born 1915)
 * 12 February – Norman Fisher, boxer (born 1916)
 * 17 February – Fuzz Barnes, political activist (born 1902)
 * 18 February – Elizabeth Lissaman, potter (born 1901)
 * 9 March – Esther Blackie, cricketer (born 1916)
 * 14 March – Emily Carpenter, consumer advocate (born 1917)
 * 17 March – Peter Gordon, politician (born 1921)
 * 21 March – William Ditchfield, cricketer (born 1903)
 * 28 March – Henry Field, educational psychologist (born 1903)

April–June

 * 3 April – Peter Hooper, writer (born 1919)
 * 9 April – June Litman, journalist (born 1926)
 * 14 April – Bob Page, rowing coxswain (born 1936)
 * 20 April – Clare Mallory, children's writer (born 1913)
 * 28 April – Ngata Pitcaithly, educationalist (born 1906)
 * 18 May – Horace Smirk, medical academic (born 1902)
 * 31 May
 * Maida Clark, school principal, politician, community leader (born 1902)
 * Ian Milner, public servant, academic, alleged spy (born 1911)
 * 6 June – Stella Jones, playwright (born 1904)
 * 10 June – Jim Burrows, rugby union player and coach, cricketer, military leader (born 1904)
 * 18 June – Eric Halstead, politician and diplomat (born 1912)
 * 23 June – Charles Begg, radiologist and historian (born 1912)
 * 28 June – Sydney Josland, bacteriologist (born 1904)

July–September

 * 3 July – Trevor Horne, politician (born 1920)
 * 17 July – John O'Sullivan, cricketer (born 1918)
 * 21 July – Allan Wilson, biochemistry academic (born 1934)
 * 7 August
 * Billy T. James, entertainer (born 1948)
 * Reginald Keeling, politician (born 1904)
 * 8 August – John Marsdon, cricketer (born 1928)
 * 22 August – Reuel Lochore, public servant and diplomat (born 1903)
 * 25 August – Charles Willocks, rugby union player (born 1919)
 * 17 September – Herb Mullon, philatelist (born 1905)
 * 25 September – Te Reo Hura, Rātana leader (born 1904)
 * 29 September – Sir Henry Kelliher, businessman and philanthropist (born 1896)

October–December

 * 6 October – Bob Loudon, rugby union player (born 1903)
 * 10 October – Jack Hunt, speedway rider (born 1921)
 * 12 October – Murray Kay, association footballer (born 1905)
 * 13 October – Sir William Gentry, military leader (born 1899)
 * 22 October – Francis O'Brien, cricketer (born 1911)
 * 25 October – Roy Parsons, bookseller (born 1909)
 * 26 October – Clive Boyce, local-body politician (born 1918)
 * 8 November – Billy Savidan, athlete (born 1902)
 * 9 November – Jack Newton, rugby league player (born 1920)
 * 10 November
 * Bill Gwynne, cricket umpire (born 1913)
 * Colin Johnstone, rower (born 1921)
 * 11 November – Sir Tom Skinner, politician and trade union leader (born 1909)
 * 12 November – Kamal Bamadhaj, human rights activist (born 1970)
 * 24 November – Allan Pyatt, Anglican bishop (born 1916)
 * 28 November – Te Kari Waaka, Ringatū minister and community leader (born 1916)
 * 1 December
 * Zin Harris, cricketer (born 1927)
 * Jim Knox, trade union leader (born 1919)
 * 2 December – Ted Spillane, rugby league player (born 1905)
 * 6 December – Bill Beattie, photographer (born 1902)
 * 12 December – Julia Wallace, educationalist, politician, community leader (born 1907)
 * 20 December
 * Beatrice Beeby, Playcentre pioneer (born 1903)
 * Wi Huata, clergyman (born 1917)
 * 21 December – Frank Solomon, rugby union player (born 1906)
 * 24 December – Muriel Moody, potter and sculptor (born 1907)