The following lists events that happened during 1961 in New Zealand.
Population Estimated population as of 31 December: 2,461,300. Increase since 31 December 1960: 57,700 (2.40%). Males per 100 females: 101.2.
Incumbents
Regal and viceregal Head of State – Elizabeth II Governor-General – The Viscount Cobham GCMG TD.Statistics New Zealand: New Zealand Official Yearbook, 1990. ISSN 0078-0170 page 52
Government Speaker of the House – Ronald Algie.Lambert & Palenski: The New Zealand Almanac, 1982. Prime Minister – Keith Holyoake Deputy Prime Minister – Jack Marshall. Minister of Finance – Harry Lake. Minister of Foreign Affairs – Keith Holyoake. Attorney-General – Ralph Hanan. Chief Justice — Sir Harold Barrowclough
Parliamentary opposition Leader of the Opposition – Walter Nash (Labour)
Main centre leaders Mayor of Auckland – Dove-Myer Robinson Mayor of Hamilton – Denis Rogers Mayor of Wellington – Frank Kitts Mayor of Christchurch – George Manning Mayor of Dunedin – Stuart Sidey
Events
January The Ohakuri hydroelectric power plant starts operation.
February
March
April
23 April – Emergency number 111 is introduced in Wellington.
June
1 June – Television begin transmission in Christchurch
July
1 July – Television begin transmission in Wellington.
August
September
October 12 October – Ten National MPs voted with the Opposition to remove capital punishment for murder from the Crimes Bill that the Second National Government had introduced, by a vote of 41 to 30.
November
December
Arts and literature John Caselburg wins the Robert Burns Fellowship.
See 1961 in art, 1961 in literature
Music
See: 1961 in music
Radio and television Auckland television is extended to seven nights a week, two and a half hours a night. On 4 April, Auckland television went commercial. Television transmission began in Christchurch (a year later than Auckland) on 1 June. Wellington followed four weeks later, on 1 July. 2 December – Radio station 1YW launches in Hamilton on 1140 kHz. 5 December – Radio station 3YW launches in Westport on 1460 kHz.
See: 1961 in New Zealand television, 1961 in television, List of TVNZ television programming, Public broadcasting in New Zealand & :Category:Television in New Zealand.
Film
See: :Category:1961 film awards, 1961 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, :Category:1961 films
Sport
Athletics Barry Magee wins his first national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:18:54.2 on 4 March in Christchurch.
Chess The 68th National Chess Championship was held in Auckland, and was won by Ortvin Sarapu of Auckland (his 6th title).List of New Zealand Chess Champions
Cricket New Zealand tours South Africa (spanning December 1961 – February 1962) and drew the 5-Test series 2-2:Cricinfo Archive 8–12 December 1961, Durban: 1st Test. SA won by 30 runs (SA 292 + 149, NZ 245 and 166) 26–29 December 1961, Johannesburg: 2nd Test Drawn (SA 322 + 178/6 decl, NZ 223 + 165/4) 1–4 January 1962, Cape Town: 3rd Test. NZ won by 72 runs (NZ 385 + 212/9 decl., SA 190 + 335) 2–5 February 1962, Johannesburg: 4th test. SA won by innings & 51 runs (NZ 164 + 249, SA 464) 16–20 February 1962, Port Elizabeth: 5th Test: NZ won by 40 runs (NZ 275 + 228, SA 190 + 273)
Horse racing
Harness racing New Zealand Trotting Cup – Invicta Auckland Trotting Cup – Cardigan BayAuckland Trotting cup at hrnz.co.nz
Lawn bowls The national outdoor lawn bowls championships are held in Auckland. Men's singles champion – J.H. Rabone (Auckland Bowling Club) Men's pair champions – N. Posa, M. Vulinovich (skip) (Oratia Bowling Club) Men's fours champions – J. Hammersley, L.N. Harris, R.S. Eves, M.J. Squire (skip) (West End Bowling Club, New Plymouth)
Rugby union France tour New Zealand, losing all three Test matches:Pick and Go rugby results database 22 July, Eden Park, Auckland: New Zealand 13 – 6 France 5 August, Athletic Park, Wellington: New Zealand 5 – 3 France 19 August, lancaster Park, Christchurch: New Zealand 32 – 3 France
Soccer An English FA XI tours New Zealand, handing out two heavy defeats to the national men's team.List of New Zealand national soccer matches 5 June, Wellington: NZ 0 – 8 English FA XI 10 June, Auckland: NZ 1 – 6 English FA XI The Chatham Cup was won by Dunedin team Northern who beat North Shore United 2 – 0 in the final.Chatham Cup: nzsoccer.com Provincial league champions: Auckland: North Shore United Bay of Plenty: Kawerau Town Buller: Waimangaroa United Canterbury: Technical OB Franklin: Manurewa AFC Hawke's Bay: Napier Rovers Manawatu: Ohakea Marlborough: Spartans Nelson: Rangers Northland: Kamo Swifts Otago: Northern Poverty Bay: Eastern Union South Canterbury: Thistle Southland: Invercargill Thistle Taranaki: Moturoa Waikato: Hamilton Technical OB Wairarapa: YMCA Wanganui: New Settlers Wellington: Northern West Coast: Grey United
Births 9 May: Michael Mayell, entrepreneur and founder of Cookie Time. 10 May: Blyth Tait, equestrian. 26 June: David White, cricketer. 9 August: John Key, politician, 38th Prime Minister of New Zealand (2008–2016) 12 August: Mark Priest, cricketer. 5 October: David Kirk, rugby player and business executive. 5 October: Derek Stirling, cricketer. 10 October: Gary Hurring, swimmer. 31 October: Peter Jackson, filmmaker. 15 November: Hugh McGahan, rugby league footballer. 28 November: Bruce Derlin, tennis player. 9 December: Ian Wright, rower. 30 December: Bill English, politician, 39th Prime Minister of New Zealand (2016–2017) Michael Hight, painter. Willie Jackson, politician and broadcaster. Grant Lingard, artist. Anthony McCarten, playwright and novelist. :Category:1961 births
Deaths 25 June: Jack Lamason, cricketer. 19 July: Mary Dreaver, politician. 5 August: Sidney Holland, 25th Prime Minister of New Zealand. 8 November: Frederick Vincent Ellis, artist. 14 December: William Duncan, rugby union player.
References
See also List of years in New Zealand Timeline of New Zealand history History of New Zealand Military history of New Zealand Timeline of the New Zealand environment Timeline of New Zealand's links with Antarctica