The following lists events that happened during 1961 in New Zealand.

1961
in
New Zealand

Decades:
See also:

Population

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  • Estimated population as of 31 December: 2,461,300.[1]
  • Increase since 31 December 1960: 57,700 (2.40%).[1]
  • Males per 100 females: 101.2.[1]

Incumbents

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Regal and viceregal

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Government

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Parliamentary opposition

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Main centre leaders

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Events

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January

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  • The Ohakuri hydroelectric power plant starts operation.

February

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March

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April

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  • 23 April – Emergency number 111 is introduced in Wellington.[5]

June

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  • 1 June – Television begin transmission in Christchurch

July

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  • 1 July – Television begin transmission in Wellington.

August

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September

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October

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November

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December

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Arts and literature

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See 1961 in art, 1961 in literature

Music

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See: 1961 in music

Radio and television

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  • Auckland television is extended to seven nights a week, two and a half hours a night. On 4 April, Auckland television went commercial. [1] Archived 15 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  • Television transmission began in Christchurch (a year later than Auckland) on 1 June. Wellington followed four weeks later, on 1 July. [2]

See: 1961 in New Zealand television, 1961 in television, List of TVNZ television programming, Public broadcasting in New Zealand & Category:Television in New Zealand.

Film

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See: Category:1961 film awards, 1961 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, Category:1961 films

Sport

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Athletics

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Chess

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  • The 68th National Chess Championship was held in Auckland, and was won by Ortvin Sarapu of Auckland (his 6th title).[6]

Cricket

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  • New Zealand tours South Africa (spanning December 1961 – February 1962) and drew the 5-Test series 2-2:[7]
    • 8–12 December 1961, Durban: 1st Test. SA won by 30 runs (SA 292 + 149, NZ 245 and 166)
    • 26–29 December 1961, Johannesburg: 2nd Test Drawn (SA 322 + 178/6 decl, NZ 223 + 165/4)
    • 1–4 January 1962, Cape Town: 3rd Test. NZ won by 72 runs (NZ 385 + 212/9 decl., SA 190 + 335)
    • 2–5 February 1962, Johannesburg: 4th test. SA won by innings & 51 runs (NZ 164 + 249, SA 464)
    • 16–20 February 1962, Port Elizabeth: 5th Test: NZ won by 40 runs (NZ 275 + 228, SA 190 + 273)

Horse racing

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Harness racing

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Lawn bowls

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The national outdoor lawn bowls championships are held in Auckland.[10]

  • Men's singles champion – J.H. Rabone (Auckland Bowling Club)
  • Men's pair champions – N. Posa, M. Vulinovich (skip) (Oratia Bowling Club)
  • Men's fours champions – J. Hammersley, L.N. Harris, R.S. Eves, M.J. Squire (skip) (West End Bowling Club, New Plymouth)

Rugby union

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  • France tour New Zealand, losing all three Test matches:[11]
    • 22 July, Eden Park, Auckland: New Zealand 13 – 6 France
    • 5 August, Athletic Park, Wellington: New Zealand 5 – 3 France
    • 19 August, lancaster Park, Christchurch: New Zealand 32 – 3 France

Soccer

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  • An English FA XI tours New Zealand, handing out two heavy defeats to the national men's team.[12]
    • 5 June, Wellington: NZ 0 – 8 English FA XI
    • 10 June, Auckland: NZ 1 – 6 English FA XI
  • The Chatham Cup was won by Dunedin team Northern who beat North Shore United 2 – 0 in the final.[13]
  • Provincial league champions:[14]
    • Auckland: North Shore United
    • Bay of Plenty: Kawerau Town
    • Buller: Waimangaroa United
    • Canterbury: Technical OB
    • Franklin: Manurewa AFC
    • Hawke's Bay: Napier Rovers
    • Manawatu: Ohakea
    • Marlborough: Spartans
    • Nelson: Rangers
    • Northland: Kamo Swifts
    • Otago: Northern AFC
    • Poverty Bay: Eastern Union
    • South Canterbury: Thistle
    • Southland: Invercargill Thistle
    • Taranaki: Moturoa
    • Waikato: Hamilton Technical OB
    • Wairarapa: YMCA
    • Wanganui: New Settlers
    • Wellington: Northern
    • West Coast: Grey United

Births

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Category:1961 births

Deaths

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Historical population estimates tables". Statistics New Zealand. Archived from the original on 31 December 2017.
  2. ^ Statistics New Zealand: New Zealand Official Yearbook, 1990. ISSN 0078-0170 page 52
  3. ^ a b c d e Lambert & Palenski: The New Zealand Almanac, 1982. ISBN 0-908570-55-4
  4. ^ "Elections NZ – Leaders of the Opposition". Archived from the original on 17 October 2008. Retrieved 6 April 2008.
  5. ^ "EMERGENCY SERVICE HAS FALSE CALLS". The Press. 24 April 1961. p. 10.
  6. ^ List of New Zealand Chess Champions Archived 14 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ Cricinfo Archive
  8. ^ "List of NZ Trotting cup winners". Archived from the original on 22 February 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2009.
  9. ^ Auckland Trotting cup at hrnz.co.nz Archived 17 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ McLintock, A.H., ed. (1966). "Bowls, men's outdoor—tournament winners". An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  11. ^ Pick and Go rugby results database
  12. ^ List of New Zealand national soccer matches
  13. ^ Chatham Cup: nzsoccer.com Archived 14 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ "New Zealand: List of champions". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 1999.

See also

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