Estimated population as of 31 December: 3,342,100
Increase since 31 December 1986: 28,600 (0.86%)
Males per 100 Females: 97.9
Regal and viceregal
Head of State - Elizabeth II
Governor-General - The Rt Revd. Sir Paul Reeves GCMG GCVO QSO
The 41st New Zealand Parliament, led by the Labour Party, concluded, and in the general election the party was re-elected in the 42nd New Zealand Parliament. The election also saw the elimination of the Democratic Party (formerly known as the Social Credit Party) from Parliament, leaving Labour and National as the only parties with representation.
Speaker of the House - Gerard Wall then Kerry Burke
Prime Minister - David Lange
Deputy Prime Minister - Geoffrey Palmer
Minister of Finance - Roger Douglas
Minister of Foreign Affairs - David Lange then Russell Marshall
Leader of the Opposition - Jim Bolger (National).
Main centre leaders
Mayor of Auckland - Catherine Tizard
Mayor of Hamilton - Ross Jansen
Mayor of Wellington - James Belich
Mayor of Christchurch - Hamish Hay
Mayor of Dunedin - Cliff Skeggs
January, February: Māori loan affair continues.
2 March: Edgecumbe earthquake in the Bay of Plenty.
22 May–20 June: Inaugural Rugby World Cup hosted by both New Zealand and Australia, and won by New Zealand.
June: The New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament, and Arms Control Act is passed.
19 June: 6-year old Teresa Cormack murdered.
July: The Māori Language Act makes Māori an official language.
1 August: The first Lotto draw.
15 August: The 1987 election is held.
20 October: The New Zealand stock market crashes following Black Monday on Wall Street. Share prices fell by 59 percent over four months.
December: New Zealand's first heart transplant takes place at Greenlane Hospital, for Brian Lindsay.
Arts and literature
Robert Lord wins the Robert Burns Fellowship.
See 1987 in art, 1987 in literature, Category:1987 books
New Zealand Music Awards
Winners are shown first with nominees underneath.
ALBUM OF THE YEAR Herbs – Sensitive to a Smile
Dave Dobbyn - Footrot Flats
Ardijah - Ardijah
SINGLE OF THE YEAR Dave Dobbyn - You Oughta Be in Love
Shona Laing - Glad I'm Not A Kennedy
The Chills - Leather Jacket
BEST MALE VOCALIST Dave Dobbyn
Charles Tumahai (Herbs)
Martin Phillips (The Chills)
BEST FEMALE VOCALIST Shona Laing
Betty-Anne Monga (Ardijah)
Patsy Riggir
BEST GROUP The Chills
Ardijah
Herbs
MOST PROMISING MALE VOCALIST Al Hunter
Wayne Elliot (Knightshade)
David Parker (Rhythm Cage)
MOST PROMISING FEMALE VOCALIST Moana Maniapoto Jackson Moana and the Moahunters
Darlene Adair
Kara Pewhairangi
MOST PROMISING GROUP Bonga And Harwood
Rhythm Cage
Knightshade
INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT Neil Finn
Dave Dobbyn
The Chills
Shona Laing
Kiri Te Kanawa
BEST VIDEO Matt Box Films - Sensitive to a Smile (Herbs)
Kerry Brown/ Bruce Sheridan - Glad Im Not A Kennedy (Shona Laing)
Paul Middleditch - The Game Of Love (Tex Pistol)
BEST FILM SOUNDTRACK Dave Dobbyn - Footrot Flats
Various Artists - Queen City Rocker
BEST PRODUCER Dave Dobbyn - Footrot Flats
Billy Kristian - Sensitive to a Smile (Herbs)
Ian Morris - The Game Of Love (Tex Pistol)
BEST ENGINEER Ian Morris - The Game Of Love (Tex Pistol)
Roland Morris / Nick Morgan - Ardijah
Doug Rogers / Rhys Moody - Brand New Doll
Tim Field - Out for the Count
BEST JAZZ ALBUM Mike Nock / Frank Gibson, Jr. - 'Open Door'
Brian Smith - Brian Smith
The Umbrellas - The Umbrellas
BEST CLASSICAL ALBUM Gillian Weir - Music to the Sun King
NZ Symphony Orchestra - Music By Douglas Lilburn
Margaret Neilson - Sea Changes
BEST COUNTRY ALBUM Al Hunter - Neon Cowboy
Jodi Vaughan - Straight From The Heart
Patsy Riggir - Close To Thee
BEST FOLK ALBUM Beverly Young - Bushes & Briar
Phil Garland - Hunger in the Air
Paul Mesters - Pacific Pilgrim
BEST GOSPEL ALBUM Jules Riding - Heart Strings
Patsy Riggir - Close To Thee
Darlene Adair - Darlene Adair
BEST POLYNESIAN ALBUM Herbs - E Papa - Jah Knows
Kahurangi - Kahurangi
Moana - Kua Makona
BEST CAST ALBUM Stewart Macpherson - Pirates Of Penzance
Philip Norman - Love Off The Shelf
Thomas Baker - The Conductor's Shoes
BEST SONGWRITER Charles Tumahai/ Dilworth Karaka - Sensitive to a Smile (Herbs)
Dave Dobbyn - You Oughta Be in Love
Shona Laing - Glad Im Not A Kennedy
BEST COVER Philip Trusttum – Songdance (Mike Herron)
Peter Bennett - Elephunkin
Reston Griffiths - Footrot Flats
See: 1987 in music
Benny Award presented by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand to Silvio De Pra.
Radio and television
See: 1987 in New Zealand television, 1987 in television, List of TVNZ television programming, Category:New Zealand television, TV3 (New Zealand), Category:New Zealand television shows, Public broadcasting in New Zealand
Auckland Radio 1ZB becomes Newstalk 1ZB creating the very first Newstalk ZB station.
1ZM Auckland becomes Classic Hits 1251 creating the very first Classic Hits station, other New Zealand radio stations do not take the Classic Hits branding until 1993/94.
Bad Taste
Ngati
Starlight Hotel
See: Category:1987 film awards, 1987 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, Category:1987 films
See: NZ Internet History
The All Blacks win the inaugural Rugby World Cup.
Peter Renner wins his first national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:15:32 on 22 November in Wiri, while Jillian Costley claims her first in the women's championship (2:39:33).
New Zealand Trotting Cup: Lightning Blue
The Auckland Trotting Cup was run twice in 1987 as it was being rescheduled from January back to December.January (2700m): Master Mood
December (3200m): Luxury Liner
Ballinger Belt – Diane Collings (Te Puke)
The Chatham Cup is won by Gisborne City who beat Christchurch United 7-3 on aggregate in a two-leg final.
16 January Colin Scrimgeour, minister and broadcaster.
13 February: Curly Page, cricketer.
29 May: Bryan Todd, businessman (born 1902)
4 August: Cecil Burke, cricketer.
14 October: John Rangihau, academic and leader of Tuhoe iwi.
27 December: Rewi Alley, writer and member of the Communist Party of China.
Alfred E. Allen, politician.
Johnnie Hoskins, motorcycle speedway pioneer.
Norman Jones, politician.
Colin McCahon, artist.
Dennis Rogers, mayor of Hamilton.
