1971 in New Zealand

Population

• Estimated population as of 31 December: 2,898,500.
• Increase since 31 December 1970: 46,400.
• Males per 100 females: 99.7.

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 – 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.

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

Events

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.

Music

[New Zealand Music Awards]

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

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

Film

Sport

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.

Horse racing

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

• 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.