Estimated population as of 31 December: 3,303,100Increase since 31 December 1984: 10,100 (0.31%)Males per 100 Females: 98.2Regal and viceregal
Head of State - Elizabeth IIGovernor-General - The Hon Sir David Beattie GCMG GCVO QSO QC followed by The Rt Revd. Sir Paul Reeves GCMG GCVO QSOThe 41st New Zealand Parliament continued. The fourth Labour Party government was in power.
Speaker of the House - Basil Arthur then Gerard WallPrime Minister - David LangeDeputy Prime Minister - Geoffrey PalmerMinister of Finance - Roger DouglasMinister of Foreign Affairs - David LangeLeader of the Opposition - Jim McLay (National).Main centre leaders
Mayor of Auckland - Catherine TizardMayor of Hamilton - Ross JansenMayor of Wellington - Ian LawrenceMayor of Christchurch - Hamish HayMayor of Dunedin - Cliff Skeggs4 February: Anti-nuclear policy leads to refusal of a visit by the American warship, the USS "Buchanan". Within days the United States cut military and intelligence ties with New Zealand and downgraded diplomatic relationships.First case of locally contracted AIDS is reported.Waitangi Tribunal given power to hear grievances arising since 1840.4 March: New Zealand dollar floated.15 June: A by-election in Timaru after the death of Labour MP Basil Arthur is won by Maurice McTigue for National.10 July: two French secret agents blew up the Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior in Auckland, killing crewmember Fernando Pereira. The Rainbow Warrior had been preparing to sail to Moruroa Atoll in the SE Pacific, to protest French nuclear weapons testing there.20 November Archbishop Paul Reeves appointed Governor General.Arts and literature
Keri Hulme wins Booker Prize for "The Bone People".Cilla McQueen wins the Robert Burns Fellowship.See 1985 in art, 1985 in literature, Category:1985 books
New Zealand Music Awards
Winners are shown first with nominees underneath.
ALBUM OF THE YEAR Netherworld Dancing Toys - Painted YearsShona Laing - GenreHerbs - Long AgoSINGLE OF THE YEAR Netherworld Dancing Toys - For TodayThe Mockers - Forever Tuesday MorningPeking Man - Lift Your Head Up HighBEST MALE VOCALIST Andrew Fagan (The Mockers)Malcolm Black (Netherworld Dancing Toys)Pat Urlich (Peking Man)BEST FEMALE VOCALIST Margaret UrlichPatsy RiggirJacqui FitzgeraldBEST GROUP Netherworld Dancing ToysThe MockersPeking ManMOST PROMISING MALE VOCALIST Mark Loveys (Satellite Spies)Paul Eversden (Katango)James Gaylyn (Rise)MOST PROMISING FEMALE VOCALIST Debbie HarwoodDianne Swann (Everything That Flies)Betty Monga (IQU)MOST PROMISING GROUP Satellite Spies - Destiny in MotionEverything That Flies - Bleeding HeartsKatango - Dial L for LoveINTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT Dame Kiri Te KanawaDD SmashDalvanius Prime & The Patea Maori ClubBEST VIDEO Fane Flaws - Diamonds On China (The Narcs)Debra Bustin - Krazy Legs (The Pelicans)Roger Guise - I Like To Drive (Scotty & Co)BEST FILM SOUNDTRACK Hammond Gamble / Beaver - Should I be good Should I Be EvilStephen McCurdy - Out in the Cold (Came A Hot Friday)BEST PRODUCER Nigel Stone - For TodayGlyn Tucker Jnr- Forever Tuesday Morning (The Mockers)Graeme Myhre - Lift Your Head Up High (Peking Man)BEST ENGINEER Graeme Myhre - Lift Your Head Up HighNigel Stone - For Today (Netherworld Dancing Toys)Nigel Stone - Painted Years (Netherworld Dancing Toys)BEST JAZZ ALBUM Jacqui Fitzgerald - The Masquerade Is OverMartin Winch - SaharaAlan Broadbent Trio - Song Of HomeBEST CLASSICAL ALBUM Tamas Vasmas – BrahmsDolce Consort - Recorder MusicNational Youth Choir - Peter Godfrey Conducts the National Youth Choir of NZBEST COUNTRY ALBUM Patsy Riggir - You Remind Me of a Love SongSuzanne Prentice - I Wish I Was Waltzing With YouRichie Pickett & The Inlaws - Gone For WaterBEST FOLK ALBUM Alan Young - That’s No Way To Get AlongMartha Louise - The Sailor / Mixed FeelingsMike Harding - Time on the RoadBEST GOSPEL ALBUM Jules Riding - On This NightGray Bartlett - Two Shades Of GrayWellington Salvation Army - Where Glory DwellethPOLYNESIAN ALBUM OF THE YEAR Herbs – Long AgoAotearoa - Maranga Ake AiHoward Morrison - Songs Of New ZealandBEST COVER Debra Bustin - Krazy Legs (The Pelicans)Norman Te Whata & Emily Karaka - Long Ago (Herbs)Paula Reid - State House Kid (Last Man Down)See: 1985 in music
Benny Award presented by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand to Toni Savage BEM QSM.Radio and television
The Broadcasting Tribunal awards the rights to broadcast a third channel to TV3.Julian Mounter is appointed the TVNZ Director-General.The Auckland Television Centre in Victoria Street, Auckland begins construction. [1]1 June: TV ONE holds a three-and-a-half-hour special show to celebrate 25 years of New Zealand television.See: 1985 in New Zealand television, 1985 in television, List of TVNZ television programming, Category:New Zealand television, TV3 (New Zealand), Category:New Zealand television shows, Public broadcasting in New Zealand
Dangerous OrphansKingpinLeave All FairMr WrongShaker RunSylviaThe Lost TribeThe Quiet EarthSee: Category:1985 film awards, 1985 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, Category:1985 films
John Campbell wins his first national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:17:53 on 27 October in Hamilton, while Carol Raven does the same in the women's championship (2:53:26).New Zealand Trotting Cup: BoranaAuckland Trotting Cup: Roydon GlenBallinger Belt – Chester Burt (Ashhurst)The Chatham Cup is won by Napier City Rovers who beat North Shore United 3—1 in the final.25 January: Adam Campbell, Australian rules footballer.30 January: David Wikaira-Paul, actor.2 February: Jeff Whittington, murder victim.24 February: Ella Wilks, actor.25 February: Benji Marshall, rugby league player.18 March (in Australia): Vince Lia, soccer player.10 April: Brad Wilson, cricketer.16 April: Daniel Flynn, cricketer.16 April: Brendon Leonard, rugby player.14 May: Sally Martin, actor.9 June: Richard Kahui, rugby player.19 June: Casey Williams, netball player.22 June: Thomas Leuluai, rugby league player.22 June: Frank Andrews, singer.27 June: Louis Anderson, rugby player.8 July: Ben Roberts, rugby league player.9 July: Bradley-John Watling, cricketer.13 July: Rachel Priest, cricketer.3 August: Sonny Bill Williams, rugby league player.28 September: Anton Devcich, cricketer.10 October: Bronson Harrison, rugby league player.16 October: Brent Findlay, cricketer.30 October: Kayla Sharland, field hockey striker.10 November: Elizabeth Ryan, field hockey striker.23 November: Stephen Brett, rugby union player.23 December: Emily Naylor, field hockey midfielder.Chris Currie, killed driver.Vicki Lin, television presenter.Category:1985 births
1 May: Sir Basil Arthur, politician and speaker of the House of Representatives (died in office).7 July: Ewen Solon, actor.31 July: Murray Chapple, cricketer.16 October: Bruce Levy, botanist.16 December: William H. Pettit, missionary and evangelical church leader.31 December: Mal Matheson, cricketer. 