The following lists events that happened during 1987 in New Zealand.
Population Estimated population as of 31 December: 3,342,100. Increase since 31 December 1986: 28,600 (0.86%). Males per 100 Females: 97.9.
Incumbents
Regal and viceregal Head of State – Elizabeth II Governor-General – The Rt Revd. Sir Paul Reeves GCMG GCVO QSOStatistics New Zealand: New Zealand Official Yearbook, 1990. ISSN 0078-0170 page 52
Government 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 Chief Justice — Sir Ronald Davison
Parliamentary opposition Leader of the Opposition – Jim Bolger (National).
Main centre leaders Mayor of Auckland – Catherine Tizard Mayor of Hamilton – Ross Jansen Mayor of Wellington – Jim Belich Mayor of Christchurch – Hamish Hay Mayor of Dunedin – Cliff Skeggs
Events 1 January – Unleaded petrol is introduced, with unleaded 91-octane fuel replacing "regular" 91-octane leaded fuel. "Super" 96-octane remains leaded. January, February – Māori loan affair continues. 17 February – A bus on a field trip from Woodford House school in Havelock North rolls down a bank near , west of Hastings. Five people (two students, two teachers and the bus driver) are killed and at least 17 are injured. 2 March – Edgecumbe earthquake in the Bay of Plenty. 19 May – Air New Zealand Flight 24, en route from Tokyo to Auckland, is hijacked at Nadi International Airport, Fiji while on a scheduled refuelling stop. 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 – Six-year-old Teresa Cormack goes missing in Napier. Her body is found eight days later. July – The Māori Language Act makes Māori an official language. 1 August – The first Lotto draw takes place. 15 August – The 1987 general election is held. August – Telecom launches New Zealand's first mobile phone network. 20 October – The New Zealand stock market crashes following Black Monday on Wall Street. Share prices fell by 59 percent over four months. 3 November – McDonald's opens its first restaurants in the South Island at Linwood and Merivale, Christchurch. December – New Zealand's first heart transplant takes place at Green Lane Hospital, for Brian Lindsay.
Arts and literature Robert Lord wins the Robert Burns Fellowship.
See 1987 in art, 1987 in literature, :Category:1987 books
Music
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
Performing arts
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:Television in New Zealand, TV3 (New Zealand), :Category:New Zealand television shows, Public broadcasting in New Zealand
Auckland Radio 1ZB becomes Newstalk 1ZB creating the first Newstalk ZB station. 1ZM Auckland becomes Classic Hits 1251 creating the first Classic Hits station, other New Zealand radio stations do not take the Classic Hits branding until 1993/94.
1987 Listener Gofta Awards - Television Best performance, female, dramatic role: Jennifer Ward-Lealand, Danny and Raewyn Best performance, male, dramatic role: Mitchell Manuel, Mark II Best entertainer: Topp Twins Best presenter: Gordon Mclauchlan, Weekend Best drama series: The Fire-Raiser Best factual series: Weekend Best entertainment programme Topp Twins Special Best director: Peter Sharp, The Fire-Raiser Best live coverage: Benson and Hedges Fashion Awards Best original music: Topp Twins, Topp Twins Special Best Children's programme: episode One The Fire-Raiser Best single drama programme: Mark II Best documentary promme: Wild South - Swan Lake Best writer, drama: Maurice Gee, The Fire-Raiser (episode - "The Red Balaclava"). Best writer, non-drama: Greg Stitt and Peter Hawes, Goldie: A Good Joke
Programme debuts 9 February – The Adventures of Portland Bill (TV One) 9 February – Orm and Cheep (Network 2) 9 February – The Littles (Network 2) 9 February – C.A.B. (Network 2) 10 February – Dodger, Bonzo and the Rest (Network 2) 12 February – Alvin and the Chipmunks (Network 2) 12 February – Codename Icarus (Network 2) 13 February – T-Bag (Network 2) 13 February – The Henderson Kids (Network 2) 23 February – Alphabet Zoo (Network 2) 28 February – Blott on the Landscape (TV One) 20 April – Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends (Network 2). 4 May – Pole Position (Network 2) 12 May – Emu's World (Network 2) 20 May – Paw Paws (Network 2) 30 June – The Children of Green Knowe (Network 2) 3 July – Rainbow Brite (Network 2) 20 July – The Tracey Ullman Show (Network 2) 20 July – Heggerty Haggerty (TV One) 24 July – Puddle Lane (Network 2) 24 July – The Telebugs (Network 2) 24 July – Monchhichis (Network 2) 24 July – Benji, Zax & the Alien Prince (Network 2) 1 August – Lotto (Network 2) 4 October – The Raccoons (TV One) 23 October – The Adventures of Spot (Network 2) 23 October – Pound Puppies (Network 2) 24 October – Mike, Mop and the Moke (TV One) 24 October – The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin (TV One) 16 December – Slinger's Day (Network 2)
Film 1987 Listener Gofta Awards - Film Best performance, female, in a leading role: Judy McIntosh, Arriving Tuesday Best performance, male, in a leading role: Bruno Lawrence, The Quiet Earth Best film: The Quiet Earth Best director: Geoff Murphy, The Quiet Earth Best original screenplay: Murray Ball and Tom Scott, Footrot Flats Best film score: Dave Dobbyn, Footrot Flats Best Cinematography: Bartle, The Quiet Earth Best editing: Michael Horton, The Quiet Earth Best production design: Jo Ford, The Quiet Earth Best Short film: Tandem Best Performance, female, in a supporting role: Heather Bolton, Arriving Tuesday Best performance, male, ina supporting role: Peter Smith, The Quiet Earth Best contribution to sound track: John McKay. Footrot Flats (sound design). Best screenplay adaptation: Bill Baer, Sam Pillsbury and Bruno Lawrence, The Quiet Earth Best commercial: Travelling On (Europa). Rudall Hayward Award: John O'Shea
Releases 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
Sport
Rugby The All Blacks win the inaugural Rugby World Cup.
Athletics 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).
Harness racing 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.Auckland Trotting cup at hrnz.co.nz January (2700m): Master Mood December (3200m): Luxury Liner
Shooting Ballinger Belt – Diane Collings (Te Puke)
Soccer The Chatham Cup is won by Gisborne City who beat Christchurch United 7–3 on aggregate in a two-leg final.Chatham Cup records, nzsoccer.com
Births 7 January: Michael McGlinchey, football player 27 January: Ben Te'o, rugby league player 28 January: Steven O'Dor, football player 13 February: Frank-Paul Nu'uausala, rugby league player 18 February: Maria Tutaia, netball player 22 February: Lesley Cantwell, race walker 3 March: Jacob Spoonley, football player 17 March: Krisnan Inu, rugby league player 18 March: Clarissa Eshuis, hockey player 20 March: David Richardson, actor 27 March: Victor Vito, rugby union player 7 April: Jaimee Kaire-Gataulu, actor 10 April: Hayley Westenra, soprano 11 April: Joseph Sullivan, rower Olympic gold medallist (2012 Summer Olympics 2012 London) 29 April: Tim Winitana, rugby league player 6 May: Katrina Grant, netball player 29 May: Issac Luke, rugby league player 7 June: Daniel Logan, actor 8 June: Joshua Brodie, cricketer 4 July: Chris James, football player 8 July: Alana Barber, race walker 22 July: Sam Bewley, racing cyclist 1 September: Dann Hume, singer-songwriter, drummer, and producer 16 September: Rongo Brightwell, singer 2 October: Anita Punt, hockey player 7 October: Jeremy Brockie, football player 10 October: Colin Slade, rugby union player 30 November: Miguel Start, rugby league player 9 December: Polly Powrie, sailor, Olympic gold medallist (2012 Summer Olympics 2012 London) 14 December: Lauren Boyle, swimmer 23 December: Owen Franks, rugby union player All Black (2009–) :Category:1987 births.
Deaths 16 January Colin Scrimgeour, minister and broadcaster. 13 February: Curly Page, cricketer. 29 May: Bryan Todd, businessman (born 1902) 31 May: Wilfrid Mervyn Lusty, journalist, drama critic, theatre administrator and adult educationalist 16 July: Harry Ayres, guide and mountaineer. 4 August: Cecil Burke, cricketer. 14 October: John Rangihau, academic and leader of Tuhoe iwi. 27 December: Rewi Alley, writer and member of the Chinese Communist Party. Alfred E. Allen, politician. Johnnie Hoskins, motorcycle speedway pioneer. Norman Jones, politician.