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

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.

Parliamentary opposition

Leader of the Opposition – Walter Nash (Labour)

Main centre leaders

Mayor of Auckland – Dove-Myer Robinson

Mayor of Hamilton – Dennis Rogers

Mayor of Wellington – Frank Kitts

Mayor of Christchurch – George Manning

Mayor of Dunedin – Thomas Kay Stuart Sidey

January

The Ohakuri hydroelectric power plant starts operation.

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.

Arts and literature

John Caselburg wins the Robert Burns Fellowship.

See 1961 in art, 1961 in literature, Category:1961 books

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. [1]

Television transmission began in Christchurch (a year later than Auckland) on 1 June. Wellington followed four weeks later, on 1 July. [2]

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

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)

Harness racing

New Zealand Trotting Cup: Invicta

Auckland Trotting Cup: Cardigan Bay

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–present)

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.

Michael Hight, painter.

Willie Jackson, politician and broadcaster.

Grant Lingard, artist.

Anthony McCarten, playwright and novellist.

Category:1961 births

Deaths

25 June: Jack Lamason, cricketer.

5 August: Sidney Holland, 25th Prime Minister of New Zealand.

8 November: Frederick Vincent Ellis, artist.

14 December: William Duncan, rugby union player.

Mary Dreaver, politician.

Category:1961 deaths