# 1991 in New Zealand

"none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive
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

## Incumbents
### 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

## Events
### 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

### December
## 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. Archived 22 February 2006 at the Wayback Machine
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

## Sport
### 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).

### Horse racing
#### Harness racing

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

#### Thoroughbred racing
### 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.

## Births
### 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

## Deaths
### 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)