The following lists events that happened during 1970 in New Zealand.

Population

* Estimated population as of 31 December: 2,852,100 * Increase since 31 December 1969: 48,100 (1.72%) * Males per 100 females: 99.9

Incumbents

Regal and viceregal

Head of State A head of state (or chief of state) is the public persona who officially embodies a state Foakes, pp. 110–11 " he head of statebeing an embodiment of the State itself or representatitve of its international persona." in its unity and l ...

–

Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during ...

Governor-General Governor-general (plural ''governors-general''), or governor general (plural ''governors general''), is the title of an office-holder. In the context of governors-general and former British colonies, governors-general are appointed as viceroy t ...

– Sir Arthur Porritt Bt

GCMG The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George IV, Prince of Wales, while he was acting as prince regent for his father, King George III. It is named in honour ...

GCVO The Royal Victorian Order (french: Ordre royal de Victoria) is a dynastic order of knighthood established in 1896 by Queen Victoria. It recognises distinguished personal service to the British monarch, Canadian monarch, Australian monarch, or ...

CBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

Government

The 36th Parliament of New Zealand commenced, with the second National government in power. *

Speaker of the House The speaker of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body, is its presiding officer, or the chair. The title was first used in 1377 in England. Usage The title was first recorded in 1377 to describe the role of Thomas de Hungerf ...

–

Roy Jack Sir Roy Emile Jack (12 January 1914 – 24 December 1977) was a New Zealand politician of the New Zealand National Party, National Party. He was a Cabinet of New Zealand, cabinet minister and Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives ...

.Lambert & Palenski: ''The New Zealand Almanac'', 1982. *

Prime Minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...

–

Keith Holyoake Sir Keith Jacka Holyoake, (; 11 February 1904 – 8 December 1983) was the 26th prime minister of New Zealand, serving for a brief period in 1957 and then from 1960 to 1972, and also the 13th governor-general of New Zealand, serving from 1977 ...

Deputy Prime Minister A deputy prime minister or vice prime minister is, in some countries, a government minister who can take the position of acting prime minister when the prime minister is temporarily absent. The position is often likened to that of a vice president, ...

–

Jack Marshall Sir John Ross Marshall New Zealand Army Orders 1952/405 (5 March 1912 – 30 August 1988) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party. He entered Parliament in 1946 and was first promoted to Cabinet in 1951. After spending twelve years ...

. *

Minister of Finance A finance minister is an executive or cabinet position in charge of one or more of government finances, economic policy and financial regulation. A finance minister's portfolio has a large variety of names around the world, such as "treasury", " ...

–

Robert Muldoon Sir Robert David Muldoon (; 25 September 19215 August 1992) was a New Zealand politician who served as the 31st Prime Minister of New Zealand, from 1975 to 1984, while leader of the National Party. Serving as a corporal and sergeant in th ...

. *

Minister of Foreign Affairs A foreign affairs minister or minister of foreign affairs (less commonly minister for foreign affairs) is generally a cabinet minister in charge of a state's foreign policy and relations. The formal title of the top official varies between cou ...

–

. *

Attorney-General In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general or attorney-general (sometimes abbreviated AG or Atty.-Gen) is the main legal advisor to the government. The plural is attorneys general. In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have exec ...

–

. * Chief Justice — Sir Richard Wild

Parliamentary opposition

Leader of the Opposition The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the largest political party not in government, typical in countries utilizing the parliamentary system form of government. The leader of the opposition is typically se ...

–

Norman Kirk Norman Eric Kirk (6 January 1923 – 31 August 1974) was a New Zealand politician who served as the 29th prime minister of New Zealand from 1972 until his sudden death in 1974. Born into poverty in Southern Canterbury, Kirk left school at ...

(

Labour Labour or labor may refer to: * Childbirth, the delivery of a baby * Labour (human activity), or work ** Manual labour, physical work ** Wage labour, a socioeconomic relationship between a worker and an employer ** Organized labour and the labour ...

Main centre leaders

Mayor of Auckland The Mayor of Auckland is the directly elected head of the Auckland Council, the local government authority for the Auckland Region in New Zealand, which it controls as a unitary authority. The position exists since October 2010 after the amalga ...

–

Dove-Myer Robinson Sir Dove-Myer Robinson (15 June 1901 – 14 August 1989) was Mayor of Auckland City from 1959 to 1965 and from 1968 to 1980, the longest tenure of any holder of the office. He was a colourful character and became affectionately known across New ...

* Mayor of Hamilton –

Mike Minogue Michael John Minogue (20 October 1923 – 27 November 2008) was a New Zealand National Party politician, lawyer and mayor. Biography Minogue was born on 20 October 1923. He attended Timaru Boys' High School, St. Patrick's College ...

Mayor of Wellington The Mayor of Wellington is the head of the municipal government of the City of Wellington. The mayor presides over the Wellington City Council. The mayor is directly elected using the Single Transferable Vote method of proportional representati ...

–

Frank Kitts Sir Francis Joseph Kitts (1 May 1912 – 16 March 1979) was a New Zealand politician. He was the longest-serving mayor of Wellington, holding the post from 1956 to 1974. He was the Labour Member of Parliament for between and 1960. Early life ...

Mayor of Christchurch The Mayor of Christchurch is the head of the municipal government of Christchurch, New Zealand, and presides over the Christchurch City Council. The mayor is directly elected using a First Past the Post electoral system. The current mayor, Phil ...

–

Ron Guthrey Albert Ronald Guthrey (15 January 1916 – 8 September 2008) was a New Zealand local politician. He served as a Christchurch City Councillor for 22 years before being elected Mayor of Christchurch. He was a World War II veteran and he and his ...

Mayor of Dunedin The Mayor of Dunedin is the head of the local government, the city council of Dunedin, New Zealand. The Mayor's role is "to provide leadership to the other elected members of the territorial authority, be a leader in the community and perform c ...

–

Jim Barnes James Martin Barnes (April 8, 1886 – May 24, 1966) was an English golfer and a leading figure in the early years of professional golf in the United States. He is one of three native Britons (with Tommy Armour and Rory McIlroy) to win three di ...

Events

* 15 January – Police and anti-

Vietnam war The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...

protestors clash outside the Intercontinental Hotel in Auckland, where visiting U.S. Vice-president

Spiro Agnew Spiro Theodore Agnew (November 9, 1918 – September 17, 1996) was the 39th vice president of the United States, serving from 1969 until his resignation in 1973. He is the second vice president to resign the position, the other being John ...

is staying. * 20 July – Christchurch is awarded the hosting rights to the

1974 British Commonwealth Games The 1974 British Commonwealth Games ( mi, 1974 Taumāhekeheke Commonwealth) were held in Christchurch, New Zealand from 24 January to 2 February 1974. The bid vote was held in Edinburgh at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games. The Games were off ...

. *The North Island natural gas network is commissioned following the completion of the

Kapuni Kapuni is an onshore natural gas-condensate field located in the Taranaki Basin, a ~100,000 km2 partially-inverted rift basin on the Taranaki Peninsula in the North Island, New Zealand. Discovered in 1959 and brought into production in 1970, ...

gas treatment plant. Natural gas is initially available in Auckland, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Hawera, Wanganui, Palmerston North, Levin and Wellington.

Arts and literature

Edward Middleton Edward Middleton (December 11, 1810, Charleston, South Carolina – April 27, 1883, Washington, D.C.) of the South Carolina Middleton family was a U.S. Navy rear admiral most known for his service defending the United States Pacific borders dur ...

wins the

Robert Burns Fellowship The Robert Burns Fellowship is a New Zealand literary residency. Established in 1958 to coincide with bicentennial celebrations of the birth of Robert Burns, it is often claimed to be New Zealand's premier literary residency. The list of past ...

. See

1970 in art Events from the year 1970 in art Events * January 16 – John Lennon's exhibition of ''Bag One'' at the London Arts Gallery is shut down by Scotland Yard for displaying "erotic lithographs". * October 26 – Garry Trudeau's comic strip ''Doonesb ...

1970 in literature This article contains information about the literary events and publications of 1970. Events * January 16 – The Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus opens with a performance of Georg Büchner's '' Dantons Tod''. *March – Magdalena Mouján's stor ...

, :1970 books

Music

New Zealand Music Awards

The winners in the

New Zealand Music Awards The Aotearoa Music Awards (previously called the New Zealand Music Awards), conferred annually by Recorded Music NZ, honour outstanding artistic and technical achievements in the recording industry. The awards are among the most significant that ...

were *

Loxene Golden Disc The Loxene Golden Disc was an annual New Zealand music award. It ran from 1965 to 1972. It was superseded by the Recording Arts Talent Awards (RATA). Background The awards launched in 1965 and is the forerunner of the New Zealand Music Awards. It ...

SOLOIST AWARD Craig Scott – Lets Get A Little Sentimental *

GROUP AWARD Hogsnort Rupert – Pretty Girl See:

1970 in music List of notable events in music that took place in the year 1970. __TOC__ Specific locations * 1970 in British music * 1970 in Norwegian music Specific genres *1970 in country music * 1970 in heavy metal music *1970 in jazz Events *Janua ...

Performing arts

Benny Award The Benny Award is bestowed on a New Zealand variety entertainer. It is presented annually by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand, a non-for-profit organisation and showbusiness club, founded in 1966 and awarded to a variety performer who ha ...

presented by the

Variety Artists Club of New Zealand The Variety Artists Club of New Zealand Inc (VAC) is a non-for-profit organisation and show business club. It was founded in 1966 and became an incorporated society in 1972. The VAC was formed to promote goodwill within the New Zealand enterta ...

Howard Morrison Sir Howard Leslie Morrison (18 August 1935 – 24 September 2009) was a New Zealand entertainer. From 1964 until his death in 2009, he was one of New Zealand's leading television and concert performers. Early life Of Māori (Te Arawa), Irish ...

and Oswald Astley Cheesman.

Radio and Television

*The Feltex Television Awards begin. **Best Arts: ''Green Gin Sunset'' **Best Light Entertainment: ''The Alpha Plan'' **Public Affairs: ''Gallery'' for Brian Edwards' interview with

Christiaan Barnard Christiaan Neethling Barnard (8 November 1922 – 2 September 2001) was a South African cardiac surgeon who performed the world's first human-to-human heart transplant operation. On 3 December 1967, Barnard transplanted the heart of accident-v ...

. **Best Documentary: ''Three Score Years and Then'' **Professional (TVPDA award): David Gardner *

Radio Hauraki Radio Hauraki is a New Zealand rock music station that started in 1966. It was the first private commercial radio station of the modern broadcasting era in New Zealand and operated illegally until 1970 to break the monopoly held by the state-o ...

granted the very first commercial licence in New Zealand breaking the government monopoly of the radio airwaves. See: 1970 in New Zealand television,

1970 in television The year 1970 in television involved some significant events. Below is a list of notable television-related events in that year. Events *January 1 – WXTV becomes a full time Spanish-language station based in Paterson, New Jersey, which it rema ...

List of TVNZ television programming This is an incomplete list of television programmes, past and present, screened on Television New Zealand that were made in New Zealand. Programmes Regular shows (screened throughout the year) Seasonal shows One-off series Shows that scre ...

, :Television in New Zealand, :New Zealand television shows,

Public broadcasting in New Zealand Public broadcasting in New Zealand is funded through New Zealand Government body New Zealand On Air, and consists of a number of television channels, radio stations, and websites. In addition to funding solely public media outlets, New Zealand On ...

Film

See: :1970 film awards,

1970 in film The year 1970 in film involved some significant events. __TOC__ Highest-grossing films (U.S.) The top ten 1970 released films by box office gross in North America are as follows: Events * January 9 - Larry Fine, the second member of The Thr ...

List of New Zealand feature films This is a list of feature films and pre 1910 short films produced or filmed in New Zealand, ordered by year of release. Key * * = Funded in part by the New Zealand Film Commission. * † = Year given is date of principal photography rather th ...

Cinema of New Zealand Cinema may refer to: Film * Cinematography, the art of motion-picture photography * Film or movie, a series of still images that create the illusion of a moving image ** Film industry, the technological and commercial institutions of filmmaking * ...

, :1970 films

Sport

:See:

1970 in sports 1970 in sports describes the year's events in world sport. Alpine skiing * Alpine Skiing World Cup ** Men's overall season champion – Karl Schranz, Austria ** Women's overall season champion – Michèle Jacot, France American football * 11 ...

, :1970 in sports ,

Athletics

* Jeff Julian wins his fourth national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:24:32 on 7 March in Napier.

British Commonwealth Games

Chess

* The 77th National Chess Championship is held in Auckland, and is won by

Ortvin Sarapu Ortvin Sarapu (born Ortvin Sarapuu; 22 January 1924 – 13 April 1999), known in New Zealand as "Mr Chess", was an Estonian-born chess player who emigrated to New Zealand and won or shared the New Zealand Chess Championship 20 times from 1 ...

of Auckland (his 11th title).

Horse racing

Harness racing

New Zealand Trotting Cup The New Zealand Cup for standardbred horses, also known as either the New Zealand Trotting Cup or the New Zealand Pacing Cup is a Group One (G1) harness race held annually by the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club at Addington Raceway in Chri ...

: James *

Auckland Trotting Cup The Auckland Pacing Cup which is sometimes referred to as the Auckland Trotting Cup or merely the Auckland Cup is a race held at Alexandra Park in Auckland, New Zealand for Standardbred horses. It is one of the two major harness races, along with ...

: Stella Frost

Shooting

* Ballinger Belt – Maurie Gordon (Okawa)

Soccer

* Establishment of the

New Zealand National Soccer League The New Zealand National League is the name given to the current New Zealand top football competition. Originally set up as the New Zealand National Soccer League there has been many versions of the competition as well as many different names. Th ...

Blockhouse Bay Blockhouse Bay is a residential suburb in the south west of Auckland, in New Zealand's North Island. It is sited on the northern coast of the Manukau Harbour, and is also close to the administrative boundary that existed between Auckland Cit ...

are the first National Soccer Champions.New Zealand soccer league tables 1970
/ref> * The

Chatham Cup The Chatham Cup is New Zealand's premier knockout tournament in men's association football. It is held annually, with the final contested in September. The current champions of the Chatham Cup are 2022 winners Auckland City, who defeated Eastern ...

is won by

, who beat

Western Suburbs FC Western Suburbs Football Club is an association football club in Porirua, New Zealand. They play their home matches at Endeavour Park in the Porirua suburb of Whitby and compete in the Central Premier League. Western Suburbs is in partnership ...

(Wellington) 3–2 in a replay after the final ended at 2–2 after extra time. * Northern League premier division (Thompson Shield) – Mount Albert * Central League first division – Waterside * Southern League first division –

Christchurch Technical Cashmere Technical is an association football club based in Christchurch, New Zealand. It was formed in early 2012 from the merger of two of the city's premier teams, Cashmere Wanderers and Woolston Technical. The two clubs had agreed to work ...

* Promoted to NSL for 1971:

Mount Albert-Ponsonby Mount Albert-Ponsonby is a semi-professional association football club in Mount Albert, Auckland, New Zealand. History The club is an amalgamated between Mount Albert FC and Ponsonby in 1971. Ponsonby had previously won the Chatham Cup, New Z ...

(following a merger) and Caversham (runners up in Southern League, as Christchurch Technical were connected to Christchurch United).

Births

*12 January:

Brett Leaver Brett Leaver (born 12 January 1970) is a former field hockey player from New Zealand, who finished in eighth position with the Men's National Team, nicknamed ''Black Sticks'', at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain and finished his career ...

, field hockey player * 4 May:

Paul Wiseman Paul John Wiseman (born 4 May 1970) is a former New Zealand cricketer. "Wiz", as he was nicknamed, was an off spinner who took 9–13 for Canterbury against Central Districts in Christchurch to record the second best figures for a New Zealand b ...

, cricketer * 20 May: David Smail, golfer * 13 June:

Chris Cairns Christopher Lance Cairns (born 13 June 1970) is a former New Zealand cricketer and former ODI captain, who played for the New Zealand cricket team as an all-rounder. Cairns finished his Test career with a batting average of 33.53 and a bowling ...

, cricketer * 20 June:

Maia Lewis Maia Ann Mereana Lewis (born 20 June 1970) is a New Zealand former cricketer who played as a right-handed Batting (cricket), batter. She appeared in 9 Women's Test cricket, Test matches, 78 Women's One Day International, One Day Internationals a ...

, cricketer * 9 August:

Deborah Morris Deborah Morris-Travers (born 9 August 1970) is a former New Zealand politician. She was a list MP for New Zealand First from 1996 to 1998. Member of Parliament Morris was an MP from 1996 to 1999, representing the New Zealand First party ...

, politician * 13 August: Glenn Jonas, cricketer * 7 September:

Guy Callaghan Guy Callaghan (born 7 September 1970 in Hastings, Hawke's Bay) is a former butterfly swimmer from New Zealand, who competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain for his native country. His biggest success came in 1995, at the second ...

, butterfly swimmer * 22 September:

Hitro Okesene John Haitrosene "Hitro" Okesene () (born 22 September 1970), also known by the nickname of "Nitro",Coffey and Wood ''The Kiwis: 100 Years of International Rugby League'' is a former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s ...

, rugby league player * 19 October:

Whetu Taewa Whetu Taewa (born 19 October 1970) is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand six times between 1989 and 1996. Playing career New Zealand Whetu was born on the West Coast, New Zealand and started p ...

, rugby league player * 27 October (in Samoa):

Alama Ieremia Namulauulu Alama Ieremia (born 27 October 1970) is a New Zealand rugby union coach and former international player for Western Samoa and New Zealand. Early life Ieremia was born in Sinamoga, a suburb of Apia, Samoa. He was educated in Samoa at ...

, rugby player * 5 November:

Andrew Hastie Andrew William Hastie (born 30 September 1982) is an Australian politician and former military officer currently serving as the Shadow Minister, shadow minister for defence. He previously served as the Minister for Defence (Australia), Assistan ...

, field hockey player * 3 December:

Karen Smith Karen Smith may refer to: Sportspeople * Karen Smith (Australian field hockey) (born 1979), Australian field hockey player * Karen Smith (New Zealand field hockey) (born 1970), New Zealand field hockey player * Karen Smith (diver) (born 1976), Brit ...

, field hockey player * 5 December:

Matthew Horne Mathew Frazer Horne (born 6 September 1978) is an English actor, comedian, television presenter and narrator. He is best known for appearing on several BBC sketch shows and sitcoms, most notably '' Gavin & Stacey'' (as Gavin Shipman), '' The ...

, cricketer *

Catherine Chidgey Catherine Chidgey (born 8 April 1970) is a New Zealand novelist, short-story writer and university lecturer. Her honours include the inaugural Prize in Modern Letters; the Katherine Mansfield Fellowship to Menton, France; Best First Book at bot ...

, novelist *

Danielle Cormack Danielle Cormack (born 26 December 1970) is a New Zealand stage and screen actress. She was one of the original cast members of the long-running soap opera ''Shortland Street'', though she is also known for her role as the Amazon Ephiny in the ...

, actor *

Katherine Dienes Katherine Dienes also known as Katherine Dienes-Williams (born in Wellington, 10 January 1970) is a New Zealand-born organist, conductor and composer. She is currently Organist and Master of the Choristers at Guildford Cathedral and is the first w ...

, organist and composer *

Nicola Kawana Nicola Kāwana (born 1970) is a New Zealand actress, best known for playing Huia Samuels on the longest running New Zealand television series ''Shortland Street''. Other roles include ''Mercy Peak'', ''Jackson's Wharf'', Lollie in ''The Man Wh ...

, actor *

Nanaia Mahuta Nanaia Cybele Mahuta (born 21 August 1970) is a New Zealand politician who is the Member of Parliament (MP) for Hauraki-Waikato and serving as the Minister of Foreign Affairs (New Zealand), Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Sixth Labour Governm ...

, politician * Simon Power, politician *

Katrina Shanks Katrina May Shanks (born 12 May 1969) is a former New Zealand politician who was a list member of parliament for the National Party from 2007 to 2014. Early years Shanks was born in Dannevirke in 1969, and attended St Matthew's Collegiate ...

, politician *

Metiria Turei Metiria Leanne Agnes Stanton Turei (born 1970) is a New Zealand academic and a former New Zealand politician. She was a Member of Parliament from 2002 to 2017 and the female co-leader of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand from 2009 to 2017 ...

, politician

Deaths

* 27 January:

Rita Angus Rita Angus (12 March 1908 – 25 January 1970), a New Zealand painter, has a reputation - along with Colin McCahon and Toss Woollaston - as one of the leading figures in twentieth-century New Zealand art. She worked primarily in oil and water c ...

, painter. * 28 February:

Brian Hewat Brian Wilfred Hewat (1894 – 28 February 1970) was a New Zealand barrister and politician who served as the mayor of Invercargill from 1950 to 1953. Biography Hewat was born in Oamaru in 1894. He attended Waitaki Boys' High School and the Un ...

, politician. * 2 June:

Bruce McLaren Bruce Leslie McLaren (30 August 1937 – 2 June 1970) was a New Zealand racing car designer, driver, engineer, and inventor. His name lives on in the McLaren team which has been one of the most successful in Formula One championship history, ...

, racing driver and car designer. * 24 June:

Tiaki Omana Tiaki Omana (18 December 1891 – 24 June 1970), also known by the English name Jack Ormond, was a New Zealand rugby union player and politician. He won the Rātana Movement's fourth Maori electorate of Eastern Maori in 1943 from Āpirana Ngat ...

, politician. * 1 October: Reginald Bedford Hammond, surveyor, architect, town planner and senior public servant *

Philip Connolly Philip George Connolly (14 November 1899 – 13 February 1970) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party. Early life Connoly was born in Dunedin on 14 November 1899 to Hugh Babbington Connolly and Evelyn Emily Connolly (née Smith). He ...

, politician. * Sir

Charles Cotton Charles Cotton (28 April 1630 – 16 February 1687) was an English poet and writer, best known for translating the work of Michel de Montaigne from the French, for his contributions to ''The Compleat Angler'', and for the influential ''The Comp ...

, geologist. * Hon. Jack Watts, politician. :1970 deaths

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:1970 in New Zealand

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

Years of the 20th century in New Zealand