Estimated population as of 31 December: 2,403,600Increase since 31 December 1959: 43,900 (1.86%)Males per 100 females: 101.0Regal and viceregal
Head of State – Elizabeth IIGovernor-General – The Viscount Cobham GCMG TD.The 32nd New Zealand Parliament continued. In power was the Second Labour government under Walter Nash. The general election saw the governing Labour Party defeated by a twelve-seat margin, and replaced by the Second National government.
Speaker of the House – Robert Macfarlane.Prime Minister – Walter Nash then Keith HolyoakeDeputy Prime Minister – Clarence Skinner then Jack Marshall.Minister of Finance – Arnold Nordmeyer then Harry Lake.Minister of Foreign Affairs – Walter Nash then Keith Holyoake.Attorney-General – Rex Mason, then Ralph Hanan.Leader of the Opposition – Keith Holyoake (National) until 12 December, then Walter Nash (Labour)Main centre leaders
Mayor of Auckland – Dove-Myer RobinsonMayor of Hamilton – Dennis RogersMayor of Wellington – Frank KittsMayor of Christchurch – George ManningMayor of Dunedin – Thomas Kay Stuart SideyPassing of the Waitangi Day Act, 1960, first step towards a national day.26 November: New Zealand general election, 1960Arts and literature
Maurice Duggan wins the Robert Burns Fellowship.See 1960 in art, 1960 in literature, Category:1960 books
See: 1960 in music
Radio and television
At 7.30 pm on Wednesday 1 June 1960, a switch was flicked in a building in Shortland Street in central Auckland and New Zealand's first official television transmission began. [1]. For the first six weeks, programs are limited to two hours a night and two nights a week. [2]. In mid-July, this was extended to four nights a week. A television licence fee of £4 per year was introduced in August.See: 1960 in New Zealand television, 1960 in television, List of TVNZ television programming, Category:Television in New Zealand, Category:New Zealand television programmes, Public broadcasting in New Zealand
See: Category:1960 film awards, 1960 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, Category:1960 films
See: 1960 in sports, Category:1960 in sportsRay Puckett wins his third national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:23:12.6 on 8 March in Invercargill.The 67th National Chess Championship was held in Dunedin, and was won by Ortvin Sarapu of Auckland.The Australian team toured but games against the national side did not have Test status.Plunket Shield was won by Canterbury (1959-1960 season)New Zealand Trotting Cup: False Step – 3rd winAuckland Trotting Cup: DamianSummer Olympics, Rome – New Zealand entered 38 competitors in 9 sports, winning 2 gold (Peter Snell – Athletics, Men's 800m, Murray Halberg – Athletics, Men's 5,000m) and one bronze (Barry Magee – Athletics, Men's Marathon) medals.Winter Olympics, Squaw Valley – New Zealand entered the Winter Olympics for the second time, with a team of 4 competitors.New Zealand national rugby league teamRugby League World CupThe All Blacks toured South Africa, losing the four-test series 2-1 with one game drawn.25 June, Ellis Park, Johannesburg: New Zealand 0 – 13 South Africa23 July, Newlands, Cape Town: New Zealand 11 – 3 South Africa13 Aug, Free State Stadium, Blomfontein: New Zealand 11 – 11 South Africa27 August, Boet Erasmus, Port Elizabeth: New Zealand 3 – 8 SouthRanfurly Shield: Auckland managed successful defences against Thames Valley (22-6) and Counties (14-3) before losing to North Auckland, 17-11. North Auckland managed to defend the shield against Poverty Bay, (24-3) before losing 3-6 to Auckland. Auckland held the shield for the remainder of the season, beating Manawatu (31-8), Bay of Plenty (9-6), Wellington (22-9), Taranaki (25-6) and Canterbury (19-18).The national men's team made a short tour to Tahiti.5 September, Papeete: NZ 5 – 1 Tahiti8 September, Papeete: NZ 8 – 0 Tahiti Juniors12 September, Papeete: NZ 2 – 1 TahitiChatham Cup won by North Shore United, who beat Technical Old Boys (of Christchurch) 5-3 in the final.Provincial league champions:Auckland: North Shore UnitedBay of Plenty: KahukuraBuller: Waimangaroa UnitedCanterbury: WesternFranklin: PapatoetoeHawke's Bay: Napier RoversManawatu: Kiwi UnitedMarlborough: WoodbourneNelson: AthleticNorthland: Otangarei UnitedOtago: Northern AFCPoverty Bay: Eastern UnionSouth Canterbury: ThistleSouthland: Invercargill ThistleTaranaki: MoturoaWaikato: Hamilton Technical OBWairarapa: YMCAWanganui: Blue RoversWellington: RailwaysWest Coast: Cobden-Kohinoor21 January: Phil Horne, cricketer15 February: Michael James "Jock" Hobbs, rugby player and administrator6 April: Richard Loe, rugby player10 April – Rex Wilson, long-distance runner2 May – Rhys Jones, New Zealand Army officer14 May: Frank Nobilo, golfer7 June: Lianne Dalziel, politician15 July: Gary Robertson, cricketer9 September: Chris White, rower29 September: Tau Henare, politician1 November: Jenny Bornholdt, poet17 December: Steve Walsh, long jumper26 December: Temuera Morrison, actorChris Bell, authorCategory:1960 births
25 July Edgar Neale, politician.10 September: Sir Harold Gillies, plastic surgery pioneer8 October Sir William Polson, politician.Category:1960 deaths
