1979 in New Zealand
Population
- Estimated Population as of 31 December: 3,163,900[1]
- Increase since 31/12/1978: -1,300 (-0.04%)
- Males per 100 Females: 99.0
Incumbents
Regal and Vice Regal
Government
Parliamentary opposition
Main centre leaders
Events
- 30 July: The Carless days scheme is introduced.
- 3 November The Evening Star ceases publication. The Dunedin newspaper was founded in 1863.[5]
- 28 November: Air New Zealand Flight 901 crashes in Antarctica, killing all 237 passengers and 20 crewmembers aboard.
- The Government occupies the new executive wing of Parliament House, known as the Beehive.[6]
Arts and literature
- Nambassa beach festival, touring family roadshow. Whangamata Waihi Beach Mount Maunganui and Coromandel.
- Nambassa three day music, crafts and alternative lifestyle festival on Phil and Pat Hulses' 400-acre (1.6 km2) farm in Golden Valley, north of Waihi. Attendance 75,000 plus.
- Summer '79, outdoor arts festival in the parks of Wellington - including the Botanical Gardens, the Newtown Zoo, the Town Belt and several suburban parks.
See 1979 in art, 1979 in literature, Category:1979 books
Music
- ALBUM OF THE YEAR Street Talk – Street Talk
- SINGLE OF THE YEAR Th' Dudes – Be Mine Tonight
- TOP MALE VOCALIST Rob Guest
- TOP FEMALE VOCALIST Sharon O'Neill
- TOP GROUP Th' Dudes
- MOST PROMISING MALE VOCALIST Jon Stevens
- MOST PROMISING FEMALE VOCALIST Tina Cross
- MOST PROMISING GROUP Street Talk
- PRODUCER OF THE YEAR Steve Robinson - This Heart This Song
- ENGINEER OF THE YEAR Gerry Smith – This Heart This Song
- BEST COVER DESIGN Geoff Chunn, Peter Burt & Dale Wrightson – Just Drove Through Town
See: 1979 in music
Radio and Television
- Feltex Television Awards:
- Best Current Affairs: Dateline Monday
- Best Documentary: Okarito
- Best Drama: The Mad Dog Gang meets Rotten Fred and Ratsguts
- Best Speciality: Spot On
- Best Information: Fair Go
- Best Actor: David McPhail in A Week of It
- Best Actress: Barbara Ewing
- Entertainer of the Year: David McPhail
- Special Committee Award: Selwyn Toogood for pioneering work in Radio and Television
See: 1979 in New Zealand television, 1979 in television, List of TVNZ television programming, Category:New Zealand television, Category:New Zealand television shows, Public broadcasting in New Zealand
Film
See: Category:1979 film awards, 1979 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, Category:1979 films
Appointments and awards
See: New Zealand Order of Merit, Order of New Zealand
Sport
Athletics
- Tony Good wins his first national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:18:47.3.
Chess
Horse racing
Harness racing
Thoroughbred racing
Motorsport
Netball
Soccer
Births
- 27 January: Daniel Vettori, cricketer
- 1 February: Peter Fulton, cricketer
- 15 February: Hamish and James Marshall, cricketers
- 15 March: Kyle Mills, cricketer
- 20 March: Keven Mealamu, rugby union player
- 26 March: Ben Blair, rugby union player
- 12 May (In Nadi, Fiji): Amasio Valence, rugby sevens player
- 15 May (in Samoa): Chris Masoe, rugby union player.
- 8 June: Adine Wilson, netball player.
- 2 July: Michael Papps, cricketer.
- 30 July: Louise Corcoran, skeleton racer.
- 3 October: Rodney So'oialo, rugby union player
- 14 November: Carl Hayman, rugby union player
- 20 November: Maree Bowden, netball player
- 3 December: Daniel Bedingfield, pop singer
Category:1979 births
Deaths
Category:1979 deaths
See also
For world events and topics in 1979 not specifically related to New Zealand see: 1979
References
External links
Media related to [//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:1979_in_New_Zealand 1979 in New Zealand] at Wikimedia Commons