1968 in New Zealand

Population

• Estimated population as of 31 December: 2,773,000.
• Increase since 31 December 1967: 28,000.
• Males per 100 females: 99.8 – This was the first year in which the number of females exceeded the number of males.

Incumbents

Regal and viceregal

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

Government

• Speaker of the House – Roy Jack.
• Prime Minister – Keith Holyoake
• [Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand|Prime Minister of New Zealand|Deputy Prime Minister] – Jack Marshall.
• Minister of Finance – Robert Muldoon.
• Minister of Foreign Affairs – Keith Holyoake.
• Attorney-General – Ralph Hanan.
• Chief Justice — Sir '''Richard Wild'''

Parliamentary opposition

• Leader of the Opposition – Norman Kirk.
• Leader of the Social Credit Party – '''Vernon Cracknell'''

Main centre leaders

• Mayor of Auckland – Roy McElroy then Dove-Myer Robinson
• Mayor of Hamilton – Denis Rogers then Mike Minogue
• Mayor of Wellington – Frank Kitts
• Mayor of Christchurch – George Manning then Ron Guthrey
• Mayor of Dunedin – Russell John Calvert then Jim Barnes

Events

• 10 April – Inter-Island ferry foundered off Wellington with the loss of 53 lives.
• 24 May – A magnitude 7.1 earthquake strikes near Inangahua Junction, causing three deaths.
• 14 October – NAC commences scheduled Boeing 737-200 operations between Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.
• The Southland Daily News, which had been acquired by its rival The Southland Times in 1967, ceased publication and was replaced by an evening edition of The Times. The paper was first published as Southern News and Foveaux Strait's Herald in 1861.
• The Longest Drink In Town starts being sold.

Arts and literature

• Ruth Dallas wins the Robert Burns Fellowship.

Music

[New Zealand Music Awards]

Radio and television

• Wellington television crews win the World Newsfilm Award for their coverage of the Wahine disaster.

Film

Sport

Athletics

• Jeff Julian wins his second national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:22:40 on 9 March in Whangārei.

Association football

• The Chatham Cup is won by Eastern Suburbs of Auckland, who beat Christchurch Technical 2–0 in the final.
• 1968 was the first year in which all three regional leagues operated, with the formation of the Southern League.Northern League premier division won by Mt Wellington.Central League won by Western Suburbs FCSouthern League First Division won by Christchurch City AFC

Chess

• The 75th National Chess Championship was held in Dunedin, and was won by B.R. Anderson of Christchurch.

Cricket

• Indian cricket team in New Zealand in 1967–68. The first Test was India's first win away from home, and the second Test was New Zealand's first victory over India.

Horse racing

Harness racing

• New Zealand Trotting Cup: Humphrey
• Auckland Trotting Cup: Cardinal Garrison

Motorsport

• The 1968 Tasman Series was won by Jim Clark
• The 15th 1968 New Zealand Grand Prix was won by Chris Amon

Olympic Games

Summer Olympics

• New Zealand sends a team of 52 competitors.

Winter Olympics

• New Zealand competes at the Winter Olympics for only the third time, with a team of six athletes.

Paralympic Games

Summer Paralympics

• New Zealand sends a team to the Paralympics for the first time.

Rugby league

• New Zealand competed in the 1968 Rugby League World Cup, losing all its 3 games to finish in last place.

Rugby union

• The national team of France toured New Zealand, losing all three tests and one of their nine provincial matches.

Births

• 26 January: Chris Pringle, cricketer.
• January: Emma Paki, singer/songwriter.
• 29 February: Gareth Farr, composer and percussionist.
• 20 March: Lawrence Makoare, actor.
• 29 March: Lucy Lawless, actress and singer.
• 16 April : Roger Twose, cricketer.
• 10 May: Craig Russ, field hockey player.
• 14 May : Richard Tapper, swimmer.
• 25 May: Kevin Iro, rugby league player.
• 26 June: Scott Anderson, field hockey goalkeeper.
• 8 July: Shane Howarth, rugby player.
• 27 July: Cliff Curtis, actor.
• 31 July: Jenny Duck, field hockey player.
• 4 November: Lee Germon, cricketer.
• 21 August: Robbie Johnston, long-distance runner.
• 27 August: Matthew Ridge, rugby league player, rugby union player and television presenter.
• 24 October : Ross Anderson, swimmer.
• 18 November: Logan Edwards, rugby league player.
• 3 December: Toni Jeffs, swimmer.
• 15 December: Kirsa Jensen, missing person.
• 25 December: Jason Mackie, rugby league player.Greg Johnson, musician.Paul Moon, historian and biographer.Michael Parekowhai, sculptor.

Deaths

• 4 June: Walter Nash, 27th Prime Minister of New Zealand.
• 16 June: Alan Stuart Paterson, cartoonist.
• 19 September: Barrett Crumen, seaman and swagger.
• 19 November: Vivian Potter, politician.