Estimated population as of 31 December: 3,342,100Increase since 31 December 1986: 28,600 (0.86%)Males per 100 Females: 97.9Regal and viceregal
Head of State - Elizabeth IIGovernor-General - The Rt Revd. Sir Paul Reeves GCMG GCVO QSOThe 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 BurkePrime Minister - David LangeDeputy Prime Minister - Geoffrey PalmerMinister of Finance - Roger DouglasMinister of Foreign Affairs - David Lange then Russell MarshallLeader of the Opposition - Jim Bolger (National).Main centre leaders
Mayor of Auckland - Catherine TizardMayor of Hamilton - Ross JansenMayor of Wellington - James BelichMayor of Christchurch - Hamish HayMayor of Dunedin - Cliff SkeggsJanuary, 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 SmileDave Dobbyn - Footrot FlatsArdijah - ArdijahSINGLE OF THE YEAR Dave Dobbyn - You Oughta Be in LoveShona Laing - Glad I'm Not A KennedyThe Chills - Leather JacketBEST MALE VOCALIST Dave DobbynCharles Tumahai (Herbs)Martin Phillips (The Chills)BEST FEMALE VOCALIST Shona LaingBetty-Anne Monga (Ardijah)Patsy RiggirBEST GROUP The ChillsArdijahHerbsMOST PROMISING MALE VOCALIST Al HunterWayne Elliot (Knightshade)David Parker (Rhythm Cage)MOST PROMISING FEMALE VOCALIST Moana Maniapoto Jackson Moana and the MoahuntersDarlene AdairKara PewhairangiMOST PROMISING GROUP Bonga And HarwoodRhythm CageKnightshadeINTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT Neil FinnDave DobbynThe ChillsShona LaingKiri Te KanawaBEST 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 FlatsVarious Artists - Queen City RockerBEST PRODUCER Dave Dobbyn - Footrot FlatsBilly 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 - ArdijahDoug Rogers / Rhys Moody - Brand New DollTim Field - Out for the CountBEST JAZZ ALBUM Mike Nock / Frank Gibson, Jr. - 'Open Door'Brian Smith - Brian SmithThe Umbrellas - The UmbrellasBEST CLASSICAL ALBUM Gillian Weir - Music to the Sun KingNZ Symphony Orchestra - Music By Douglas LilburnMargaret Neilson - Sea ChangesBEST COUNTRY ALBUM Al Hunter - Neon CowboyJodi Vaughan - Straight From The HeartPatsy Riggir - Close To TheeBEST FOLK ALBUM Beverly Young - Bushes & BriarPhil Garland - Hunger in the AirPaul Mesters - Pacific PilgrimBEST GOSPEL ALBUM Jules Riding - Heart StringsPatsy Riggir - Close To TheeDarlene Adair - Darlene AdairBEST POLYNESIAN ALBUM Herbs - E Papa - Jah KnowsKahurangi - KahurangiMoana - Kua MakonaBEST CAST ALBUM Stewart Macpherson - Pirates Of PenzancePhilip Norman - Love Off The ShelfThomas Baker - The Conductor's ShoesBEST SONGWRITER Charles Tumahai/ Dilworth Karaka - Sensitive to a Smile (Herbs)Dave Dobbyn - You Oughta Be in LoveShona Laing - Glad Im Not A KennedyBEST COVER Philip Trusttum – Songdance (Mike Herron)Peter Bennett - ElephunkinReston Griffiths - Footrot FlatsSee: 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 TasteNgatiStarlight HotelSee: 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 BlueThe Auckland Trotting Cup was run twice in 1987 as it was being rescheduled from January back to December.January (2700m): Master MoodDecember (3200m): Luxury LinerBallinger 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. 