1961 in New Zealand

1961 in New Zealand
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.
Government
Speaker of the House – Ronald Algie.
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
June
July
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.
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).
Cricket
New Zealand tours South Africa (spanning December 1961 – February 1962) and drew the 5-Test series 2-2:
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 Bay
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:
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.
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.
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 AFC
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
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
1960s in New Zealand
Years of the 20th century in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand