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.
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.
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
The Ohakuri hydroelectric power plant starts operation.
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
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.
See: Category:1961 film awards, 1961 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, Category:1961 films
Barry Magee wins his first national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:18:54.2 on 4 March in Christchurch.
The 68th National Chess Championship was held in Auckland, and was won by Ortvin Sarapu of Auckland (his 6th title).
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)
New Zealand Trotting Cup: Invicta
Auckland Trotting Cup: Cardigan Bay
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
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
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
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