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1981 in New Zealand:
Other years in New Zealand
1978 • 1979 • 1980 • 1981 • 1982 • 1983 • 1984

Population

Estimated Population as of 31 December: 3,194,500 ^[1]
Increase since 31/12/1980: 18,100 (0.57%)
Males per 100 Females: 98.7

Incumbents

Regal and Vice Regal

Head of State - Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand
Governor-General - The Hon. Sir David Beattie GCMG GCVO QSO QC. ^[2]

Government

The 39th New Zealand Parliament, led by the National Party, concluded, and in the general election the party was re-elected in the 40th New Zealand Parliament. Support for the government decreased, however, with the Labour Party receiving the largest portion of the popular vote.

Speaker of the House - Richard Harrison. ^[3]
Prime Minister - Robert Muldoon
Deputy Prime Minister - Brian Talboys then Duncan MacIntyre. ^[3]
Minister of Finance - Robert Muldoon. ^[3]
Minister of Foreign Affairs - Brian Talboys then Warren Cooper. ^[3]
Attorney-General - Jim McLay. ^[3]

Parliamentary opposition

Leader of the Opposition - Bill Rowling (Labour). ^[4]
Social Credit Party - Bruce Beetham

Main centre leaders

Mayor of Auckland - Colin Kay
Mayor of Hamilton - Ross Jansen
Mayor of Wellington - Michael Fowler
Mayor of Christchurch - Hamish Hay
Mayor of Dunedin - Clifford George (Cliff) Skeggs

Events

The Kohanga reo scheme is established by the Department of Māori Affairs.

January: Nambassa five day celebration of music, crafts and alternative lifestyles culture on 250-acre (100 ha) farm at Waitawheta Valley between Waihi and Waikino. Attendance 20,000.
January: The second Sweetwaters Music Festival is held near Ngaruawahia.

3 May: The first newspaper published on a Sunday in New Zealand; initially called the New Zealand Times.

July 13: Springbok rugby union team arrive in New Zealand to begin the 1981 Springbok Tour

September 13: The Springbok rugby team leave New Zealand.

Arts and literature

William Sewell wins the Robert Burns Fellowship.

See 1981 in art, 1981 in literature, Category:1981 books

Music

New Zealand Music Awards

ALBUM OF THE YEAR Dave McArtney & The Pink Flamingos - Dave McArtney & The Pink Flamingos
SINGLE OF THE YEAR Coup D'État – Doctor, I Like Your Medicine
TOP MALE VOCALIST Dave McArtney (Dave McArtney & The Pink Flamingos)
TOP FEMALE VOCALIST Suzanne Prentice
TOP GROUP Dave McArtney & The Pink Flamingos - Dave McArtney & The Pink Flamingos
MOST PROMISING MALE VOCALIST Dave McArtney
MOST PROMISING FEMALE VOCALIST Anne Dumont
MOST PROMISING GROUP The Screaming Meemees
ENGINEER OF THE YEAR Dave Hurley & Graham Myhre - Dave McArtney & the Pink Flamingos
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR Bruce Lynch - Dave McArtney and the Pink Flamingos
BEST COVER DESIGN David Hollis – Caught Alive
SPECIAL AWARD Fred Smith - Services to the Recording Industry (particularly with regard to Copyright)

See: 1981 in music

Radio and Television

Feltex Television Awards:
- Best Drama: Mortimer's Patch
- Best Speciality: Sport on One - Sunday
- Best Entertainment: Radio Times
- Best Documentary: Moriori
- Best Children's: Video Dispatch
- Best Information: Country Calendar
- Best Current Affairs: Close Up
- Best Actor: Terence Cooper
- Best Actress: Glynis McNicol
- Best Script: Little Big Man Takes a Shot at the Moon
- Best Television Entertainer: Hudson and Halls
- Stan Hosgood Award for Allied Craft: Logan Brewer, Set designer for Hunters Gold, Gather Your Dreams, Children of Fire Mountain, I Pagliacci

See: 1981 in New Zealand television, 1981 in television, List of TVNZ television programming, Category:New Zealand television, Category:New Zealand television shows, Public broadcasting in New Zealand

Film

See: Category:1981 film awards, 1981 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, Category:1981 films

Appointments and awards

See: New Zealand Order of Merit , Order of New Zealand

Archbishop of New Zealand
Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia , see appointments to Diocese

Sport

Athletics

Paul Ballinger wins his second national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:17:28 on May 2 in Rotorua, while Christine Munro claims her first title in the women's championship (2:56:04).

Births

5 January: Corey Flynn, rugby player.
10 January: Hayden Roulston, professional cyclist. ^[5]
21 January: Jason Williams, rugby player.
27 January: Tony Woodcock, rugby player.
29 January: Jake Adams, musician.
12 February: Daniel Braid, rugby player.
6 March: Tim Brown, soccer player.
20 March: Jamaal Lolesi, rugby league player.
25 March: Mose Tuiali'i, rugby player.
27 March: Sione Faumuina, rugby league player.
30 April: Ali Williams, rugby player.
4 May: Kate Elliott, actor.
6 May: Jodi Te Huna, netball player.
10 May: Lloyd Stephenson, field hockey player.
19 May: Jamie How, cricketer.
25 May: Shelley Paikea, singer.
25 May: Matt Utai, rugby league player.
25 May: Motu Tony, rugby league player.
2 June: Brad Mika, rugby player.
9 June: Dean Couzins, field hockey player.
18 June: Teresa Cormack, child murder victim.
19 June: Moss Burmester, swimmer.
28 June: Demetrius "Savage" Savelio, rapper.
3 July: Tevita Latu, rugby league player.
31 July: Paul Whatuira, rugby league player.
31 July: Scott Talbot-Cameron, swimmer.
3 August: Daniel Koprivcic, soccer player.
6 September: Te Atirau Paki, television presenter.
22 September: James Stosic, rugby player.
27 September: Brendon McCullum, cricketer.
29 September (in Germany): Shane Smeltz, soccer player.
29 October (in Sydney): Jamie Waugh, writer.
24 November: Ian Butler, cricketer.
10 December: Caleb Ross, actor.
10 December: Conrad Smith, rugby player.
20 December: Leo Bertos, soccer player.

Deaths

23 March: Beatrice Tinsley, astronomer.
21 December: Iriaka Matiu Ratana, politician.

J. A. W. Bennett, literary scholar.
Keith Murray, architect and ceramic designer.

References

^ http://www.stats.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/24107FC8-E7B5-4CF2-B17C-15E31CCA7D05/0/HistoricalPop.xls
^ Statistics New Zealand: New Zealand Official Yearbook, 1990. ISSN 0078-0170 page 52
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Lambert & Palenski: The New Zealand Almanac, 1982. ISBN 0908570554
^ "Elections NZ - Leaders of the Opposition". Retrieved on 2008-04-06.
^ Hayden ROulston profile