# 1971 in New Zealand

"none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive
The following lists events that happened during 1971 in New Zealand.

## Population

* Estimated population as of 31 December: 2,898,500.
* Increase since 31 December 1970: 46,400 (1.63%).
* 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

The 36th Parliament of New Zealand continued, with the second National government in power.
* 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 (Labour).

### 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.

### December
## Arts and literature

* Noel Hilliard wins the Robert Burns Fellowship.
See 1971 in art, 1971 in literature

### Music
#### New Zealand Music Awards

* Loxene Golden Disc Craig Scott – Smiley
* Loxene Golden Disc Chapta – Say A Prayer
See: 1971 in music

### 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
See: 1971 in New Zealand television, 1971 in television, List of TVNZ television programming, Category:Television in New Zealand, Category:New Zealand television shows, Public broadcasting in New Zealand

### Film

See: Category:1971 film awards, 1971 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, Category:1971 films

## 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 (his second title).

### 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.
Category:1971 births

## 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.