1980 in New Zealand
See also: 1979 in New Zealand, other events of 1980, 1981 in New Zealand, and the Timeline of New Zealand history.
Summary
The section should contain a paragraph or two about the year.
See: 1980 and Timeline of New Zealand history plus data below.
Incumbents
Regal and Vice Regal
- Head of State - Queen Elizabeth II
- Governor-General - Sir Keith Holyoake followed by The Hon. Sir David Beattie
Government
The 39th New Zealand Parliament continued. The third National Party government was in power.
- Speaker of the House - Richard Harrison
- Prime Minister - Robert Muldoon
- Deputy Prime Minister - Brian Talboys
- Minister of Finance - Robert Muldoon
- Minister of Foreign Affairs - Brian Talboys
An attempt by high-ranking ministers Derek Quigley, Jim McLay, and Jim Bolger to replace Muldoon as prime minister (known as the "colonels' coup") with the deputy prime minister Talboys collapsed as a result of Talboys' unwillingness to actively campaign against Muldoon.
Three by-elections occurred.
- In East Coast Bays, the sitting National MP Frank Gill resigned to take up the post of New Zealand's ambassador to the United States. The seat was won by Gary Knapp for the Social Credit Party.
- In Northern Māori the MP Matiu Rata, who had left Labour the year before, resigned and recontested the seat for Mana Motuhake. The seat was won by the Labour Party candidate Bruce Gregory.
- In Onehunga a by-election was called after the death of Labour MP Frank Rogers. The seat was won again for the Labour Party by Fred Gerbic.
Opposition Leaders
Main centre leaders
- Mayor of Auckland - Dove-Myer Robinson then Colin Kay
- Mayor of Hamilton - Ross Jansen
- Mayor of Wellington - Michael Fowler
- Mayor of Christchurch - Hamish Hay
- Mayor of Dunedin - Clifford George (Cliff) Skeggs
Events
A strike at the Kinleith pulp and paper mill lasted for 80 days, and broke the government's wage and price freeze.
Saturday trading was partially legalised.
The first Sweetwaters Music Festival was held near Ngaruawahia.
The carless days scheme finished.
See also 1980, 1980 in politics, 1980 in science, Category:1980 in Australia, 1980 in Australia, 1980 in music, 1980 timelines, History of New Zealand, Category:History of New Zealand, Military history of New Zealand, Timeline of environmental history of New Zealand, Timeline of New Zealand history
Arts and literature
- Philip Temple wins the Robert Burns Fellowship.
See 1980 in art, 1980 in literature, Category:1980 books
Music
New Zealand Music Awards
- ALBUM OF THE YEAR Sharon O'Neill - Sharon O'Neill
- SINGLE OF THE YEAR Jon Stevens – Montego Bay
- TOP MALE VOCALIST Jon Stevens
- TOP FEMALE VOCALIST Sharon O'Neill
- TOP GROUP Crocodiles
- MOST PROMISING MALE VOCALIST Jon Stevens
- MOST PROMISING GROUP Crocodiles
- PRODUCER OF THE YEAR Dave MaCrae & Kevin Oliff – Pacific Eardrum (Pacific Eardrum)
- ENGINEER OF THE YEAR Tony Burns - Pacific Eardrum (Pacific Eardrum)
- BEST COVER Peter Burt – Pacific Eardrum (Pacific Eardrum)
- OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION Terence O’Neill-Joyce
See: 1980 in music
Radio and Television
- Television One and South Pacific Television are merged into Television New Zealand.
- The national newsroom is moved from Avalon in Lower Hutt to Auckland. [1]
- Feltex Television Awards:
- Best Information: Country Calendar
- Best Documentary: From the Ocean to the Sky
- Best Drama: Children of Fire Mountain
- Best Speciality: 1979 SPT International Track Series
- Best Children's: Spot On
- Best Script: Episode five of Children of Fire Mountain
- Best Actor: Terence Cooper in Children of Fire Mountain
- Best Actress: Ginette McDonald as Sandra Allenby in It's Your Child
- Best Television Entertainer: David McPhail
See: 1980 in New Zealand television, 1980 in television, List of TVNZ television programming, Category:New Zealand television, Category:New Zealand television shows, Public broadcasting in New Zealand
Film
See: Category:1980 film awards, 1980 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, Category:1980 films
Appointments and awards
See: New Zealand Order of Merit , Order of New Zealand
- Archbishop of New Zealand
- Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia , see appointments to Diocese
Sport
- See: 1980 in sports , Category:1980 in sports , Summer Olympic Games (See Category:New Zealand at the Olympics and Winter Olympic Games
- Rugby: Category:Rugby union in New Zealand , Super 14, Rugby Union World Cup, National Provincial Championship , Category:All Blacks , Bledisloe Cup , Tri Nations Series , Ranfurly Shield
- Cricket: Various Tours, New Zealand cricket team , Chappell-Hadlee Trophy , Cricket World Cup
- Gold: New Zealand Open , Check Category:New Zealand golfers in overseas tourniments.
- Horse racing: See Category:New Zealand horse races, list winners.
- Rugby league New Zealand Warriors , Bartercard Cup , New Zealand national rugby league team , Rugby League World Cup
- Netball: Silver Ferns , National Bank Cup
Rugby Union
- June 21: The All Blacks lose 9-13 to Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground
- June 28: The All Blacks beat Australia 12-9 at Ballymore Stadium
- July 12: The All Blacks lose 10-26 to Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground
- July 23: The All Blacks beat Fiji 30-6 at Fiji National Stadium
- September 13: The All Blacks beat Fiji 33-0 at Eden Park
- October 8: The All Blacks beat The United states 53-6 at San Diego Stadium
- October 18: The All Blacks beat Canada 43-10 at Swangard Stadium
- November 1: The All Blacks beat Wales 23-3 at Cardiff Arms Park
Soccer
- New Zealand National Soccer League won by Mt. Wellington AFC
- Chatham Cup won by Mt._Wellington_AFC
- New Zealand was unplaced in the Oceania Cup tournament held in New Caledonia
Births
- 15 January: Jason Cayless, rugby player
- 31 January: Sam Harris, rugby player
- 2 February: Kyle Pontifex, field hockey player
- 10 February: Riki Flutey, rugby player
- 21 February: Clinton Toopi, rugby player
- 4 March: Scott Hamilton, rugby player
- 6 March: Gareth Fleming, musician
- 9 March: Trent Croad, Australian rules footballer
- 15 April: Willie Mason, rugby player
- 16 April: David Hall, rugby player
- 22 April: Clarke Dermody, rugby player
- 25 April: Phillip Burrows, field hockey player
- 25 April: Bruce Martin, cricketer
- 7 May: Jeetan Patel, cricketer
- 8 May: Steven Ferguson, canoer and swimmer
- 10 May: Brad Carter, musician
- 13 May: Ken Uprichard, archer
- 30 May: Henry Fa'afili, rugby player
- 16 June: Henry Perenara, rugby player
- 22 July: Scott Dixon, racing car driver
- 31 July (in Samoa): Mils Muliaina, rugby player
- 10 August: Pua Magasiva, actor
- 12 August: Blair Hopping, field hockey player
- 14 August: Nick Evans, rugby player
- 31 August: Hayden Shaw, field hockey player
- 1 September: Ryan Archibald, field hockey player
- 9 September: David Fa'alogo, rugby player
- 12 September: Clifford Manua, rugby player
- 10 October: Tasesa Lavea, rugby union and rugby league player
- 4 November: Jerry Collins, rugby player
- 7 November: James Franklin, cricketer
- 8 November: Brent Webb, rugby player
- 23 November: Kirk Penney, basketball player
- 25 November: Michael Wilson, soccer player
- 29 November: Aaron Mauger, rugby player
- 17 December: Tim Youngson, musician
- 24 December: Andrew Barron, football (soccer) player
- 31 December: Richie McCaw, rugby player
- Mike Mayhew, artist
- Ben Goodger, lead developer of the Firefox web browser
Deaths
- 12 April: Clark McConachy, snooker and billiards player
- 15 May: Len Lye, sculptor, artist, writer and film-maker
- 2 August: Verdun Scott, cricketer
- 28 November: Bernard Fergusson, Baron Ballantrae, Governor-General
- 5 December: Don Taylor, cricketer
- Denis Glover, poet and publisher