The following lists events that happened during 1978 in New Zealand.
Population Estimated population as of 31 December: 3,165,200. Change since 31 December 1977: -1,200 (-0.04%). Males per 100 females: 99.2. This was the first year since 1941 in which New Zealand's population declined (due to emigration, largely to Australia).
Incumbents
Regal and viceregal Head of State – Elizabeth II Governor-General – The Rt Hon. Sir Keith Holyoake KG GCMG CH QSO.Statistics New Zealand: New Zealand Official Yearbook, 1990. ISSN 0078-0170 page 52
Government Speaker of the House – Richard Harrison.Lambert & Palenski: The New Zealand Almanac, 1982. Prime Minister – Robert Muldoon Deputy Prime Minister – Brian Talboys. Minister of Finance – Robert Muldoon. Minister of Foreign Affairs – Brian Talboys. Attorney-General – Peter Wilkinson until 13 December, then Jim McLay. Chief Justice — Sir Richard Wild (until 20 January), Sir Ronald Davison (starting 3 February)
Parliamentary opposition Leader of the Opposition – Bill Rowling (Labour). Social Credit Party – Bruce Beetham
Main centre leaders Mayor of Auckland – Dove-Myer Robinson Mayor of Hamilton – Ross Jansen Mayor of Wellington – Michael Fowler Mayor of Christchurch – Hamish Hay Mayor of Dunedin – Clifford George (Cliff) Skeggs
Events The Pureora Forest Park was established after a series of protests and tree sittings. 18 February – The Rangitikei by-election was won by Bruce Beetham for Social Credit. 1 April – Flag carriers Air New Zealand and the National Airways Corporation merge to form a single airline under the Air New Zealand name. 25 April – A 506 day long Māori occupation of and protest in Bastion Point ends. 12 September – Kaimai Rail Tunnel on the East Coast Main Trunk Railway, at 8896 m the longest tunnel in New Zealand, opened. December – Holy Name Seminary, Christchurch (Catholic) closed.
Arts and literature Barry Thomas's Vacant Lot of Cabbages was a six month long occupation that issued in a new wave in public art. Roger Hall and Peter Olds win the Robert Burns Fellowship.
See 1978 in art, 1978 in literature, :Category:1978 books
January Nambassa, three-day music, crafts and alternative lifestyles festival on Phil and Pat Hulses' farm in Golden Valley, north of Waihi. Attendance 25,000.
October Nambassa winter road show, toured the North Island of NZ, promoting the 1979 festival.
Music
New Zealand Music Awards Winners were as follows: ALBUM OF THE YEAR Hello Sailor – Hello Sailor SINGLE OF THE YEAR Golden Harvest – I Need Your Love TOP MALE VOCALIST John Rowles TOP GROUP Hello Sailor TOP FEMALE VOCALIST Sharon O’Neill ENGINEER OF THE YEAR Ian Morris – Hello Sailor PRODUCER OF THE YEAR Rob Aicken – Hello Sailor MOST PROMISING GROUP Citizen Band MOST PROMISING FEMALE VOCALIST Kim Hart MOST PROMISING MALE VOCALIST Dennis O’Brien
See: 1978 in music
Performing arts
Benny Award presented by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand to George Tumahai.
Radio and television 23 November – the AM broadcast band moves from 10 kHz spacing to 9 kHz spacing, in line with the Geneva Frequency Plan of 1975. Feltex Television Awards: Best Current Affairs: Dateline Monday Best Information: Fair Go Best Documentary: Birth with R.D. Laing Best Light Entertainment: A Week of It Best Drama: The Governor Best Speciality: Sport on One Best Actor: David McPhail on A Week of It Best Personality: Roger Gascoigne Best Script: He Iwi Ko Tahi Tatou: episode four of The Governor
See: 1978 in New Zealand television, 1978 in television, List of TVNZ television programming, :Category:Television in New Zealand, :Category:New Zealand television shows, Public broadcasting in New Zealand
Film Angel Mine Skin Deep
See: :Category:1978 film awards, 1978 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, :Category:1978 films
Sport
Athletics Paul Ballinger wins his first national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:17:33 on 11 March in Hastings.
Chess The 85th New Zealand Chess Championship is held in Wellington, and is won by Craig Laird of Tauranga.List of New Zealand Chess Champions
Commonwealth Games
Total 5 6 9 20
Cricket 15 February: After 48 years of trying, New Zealand beats England in a Test match for the first time, winning the Test at the Basin Reserve.nzhistory.net.nz
Horse racing
Harness racing New Zealand Trotting Cup: Trusty Scot Auckland Trotting Cup: Sole Command. From 1978–86 the race was over 2700m and there was no handicapping.Auckland Trotting cup at hrnz.co.nz
Soccer New Zealand National Soccer League won by Christchurch United The Chatham Cup is won by Manurewa who beat Nelson United 1–0 in the final.Chatham Cup records, nzsoccer.com
Births 2 January: Dan Ward-Smith, rugby union player 5 January: Adi Dick, musician. 21 January (in the United States): Mike Chappell, basketballer. 3 February: Keith Cameron, rugby union player.Keith Cameron profile 26 February: Rico Gear, rugby union player. 8 April: Nathan Mauger, rugby union player. 29 April: Donna Loffhagen, netball and basketball player. 19 May: Willie Walker, rugby union player. 28 May: John Dennison, poet. 1 June: Ben Lummis, singer and winner of New Zealand Idol (season 1). 11 June: Daryl Tuffey, cricketer. 4 July: Bianca Russell, field hockey player. 6 July: Kevin Senio, rugby union player. 12 July: Claire Chitham, actor. 26 July: David Kosoof, field hockey player. 28 July: Jacob Oram, cricketer. 14 August (in South Africa): Greg Rawlinson, rugby union player. 5 September: Chris Hipkins, politician. Chris Jack, rugby union player. 13 September: Andrew Hore, rugby union player. 18 September: Iain Lees-Galloway, politician. 21 September: Doug Howlett, rugby union player. 10 October: Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell (twins), rowers, Olympic gold medallists (2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing) 26 October: Ricky Cockerill, figure skater. 6 November: Dean Kent, swimmer. 11 November: Lou Vincent, cricketer. 19 November (in Australia): Mahé Drysdale, rower, Olympic gold medallist (2012 London) 21 November: Paul Urlovic, soccer player. William Dwane Bell, convicted murderer. Mok TzeMing, writer. :Category:1978 births
Deaths 6 January: Burt Munro, record-setting motorcyclist 30 March: Sir Charles William Hamilton (Bill Hamilton), inventor of the jetboat. 13 May: Alby Roberts, cricketer. 22 May: Sir Richard Wild, 9th Chief Justice of New Zealand. 23 July: Sir Ronald Algie, politician and former Speaker of the House of Representatives. 18 August: Ronald L. Meek, economist. John Hutton, glass engraver :Category:1978 deaths
See also List of years in New Zealand Timeline of New Zealand history History of New Zealand Military history of New Zealand Timeline of the New Zealand environment Timeline of New Zealand's links with Antarctica
References
External links