Estimated population as of 31 December: 3,516,000
Increase since 31 December 1990: 40,900 (1.18%) Note that there is a discontinuity between the 1990 and 1991 figures as Statistics NZ switched from using the de facto population concept to estimated resident population.
Males per 100 Females: 99.7
Regal and viceregal
Head of State – Elizabeth II
Governor-General – The Hon Dame Catherine Anne Tizard, GCMG, GCVO, DBE, QSO
The 43rd New Zealand Parliament continued. Government was The National Party, led by Jim Bolger. National controlled nearly seventy percent of the seats in Parliament.
Speaker of the House – Robin Gray
Prime Minister – Jim Bolger
Deputy Prime Minister – Don McKinnon
Minister of Finance – Ruth Richardson
Minister of Foreign Affairs – Don McKinnon
Leader of the Opposition – Mike Moore (Labour) .
NewLabour Party – Jim Anderton
Main centre leaders
Mayor of Auckland – Les Mills
Mayor of Hamilton – Margaret Evans
Mayor of Wellington – James Belich
Mayor of Christchurch – Vicki Buck
Mayor of Dunedin – Richard Walls
2 January: description
17 April: Prime Minister Jim Bolger stated, "We intend to keep New Zealand nuclear-free this term, next term, and the term after that."
22 July The Resource Management Act 1991 passes into law after a third reading speech by Simon Upton.
1 October The Resource Management Act 1991 commences
Arts and literature
Lynley Hood wins the Robert Burns Fellowship.
See 1991 in art, 1991 in literature, Category:1991 books
Benny Award presented by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand to Debbie Dorday.
Radio and television
CanWest takes management control of TV3. [1]
See: 1991 in New Zealand television, 1991 in television, List of TVNZ television programming, Category:New Zealand television, TV3 (New Zealand), Category:New Zealand television shows, Public broadcasting in New Zealand
A Soldier's Tale
Chunik Bair
Grampire
Old Scores
Te Rua
The End of the Golden Weather
See: Category:1991 film awards, 1991 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, Category:1991 films
See: NZ Internet History
Paul Herlihy wins his first national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:13:34 on 2 March in New Plymouth, while Lee-Ann McPhillips claims her first in the women's championship (2:40:12).
New Zealand Trotting Cup – Christopher Vance
Auckland Trotting Cup – Christopher Vance
Ballinger Belt –
Graeme Berman (Australia)
Geoffrey Smith (Malvern), second, top New Zealander
The Chatham Cup is won by Christchurch United who beat Wellington United 2–1 in the final.
