1972 in New Zealand

The following lists events that happened during 1972 in New Zealand. == Population == Estimated population as of 31 December: 2,959,700. Increase since 31 December 1971: 61,200 (2.11%). Males per 100 females: 99.7. == Incumbents == === Regal and viceregal === Head of State – Elizabeth II Governor-General – Sir Arthur Porritt Bt GCMG GCVO CBE, followed by Sir Denis Blundell GCMG GCVO KBE QSO. === Government === The 36th Parliament of New Zealand concluded. A general election was held on 25 November and saw the second National government defeated by a large margin, with the Labour Party winning 55 of 87 seats in Parliament. Speaker of the House – Roy Jack until 8 December, then Alfred Allen. Prime Minister – Keith Holyoake then Jack Marshall then Norman Kirk Deputy Prime Minister – Jack Marshall then Robert Muldoon then Hugh Watt. Minister of Finance – Robert Muldoon then Bill Rowling. Minister of Foreign Affairs – Keith Holyoake then Jack Marshall then Norman Kirk. Attorney-General – Dan Riddiford until 9 February, then Roy Jack until 8 December, then Martyn Finlay. Chief Justice — Sir Richard Wild === Parliamentary opposition === Leader of the Opposition – Norman Kirk (Labour) until 8 December, then Jack Marshall (National). === Main centre leaders === Mayor of Auckland – Dove-Myer Robinson Mayor of Hamilton – Mike Minogue Mayor of Wellington – Frank Kitts Mayor of Christchurch – Neville Pickering Mayor of Dunedin – Jim Barnes == Events == 7 February – Jack Marshall replaces Keith Holyoake as prime minister. 14 September – As a part of the Māori protest movement, activist group Ngā Tamatoa, the Te Reo Māori Society of Victoria University, and Te Huinga Rangatahi (the New Zealand Māori Students’ Association) presented a petition signed by over 33,000 people calling for te Reo Māori to be taught in schools, leading to the creation of te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week) in 1975, and a revitalisation of Māori language. 20 October – Restrictions on the manufacture and sale of margarine in New Zealand are removed. 25 November – The 1972 general election is held. The Labour Party, led by Norman Kirk, wins 55 of the 87 seats and forms the third Labour government. 3 December – Qantas commences the first Boeing 747 service in New Zealand, between Christchurch and Sydney. 8 December – Qantas commences Boeing 747 service between Auckland and Sydney. Chile and New Zealand establish embassies in each other's capitals. The Values Party is formed. Mount Ngauruhoe erupts. == Arts and literature == Ian Wedde wins the Robert Burns Fellowship. See 1972 in art, 1972 in literature === Music === ==== New Zealand Music Awards ==== Loxene Golden Disc Suzanne – Sunshine Through A Prism Loxene Golden Disc Creation – Carolina See: 1972 in music === Performing arts === Benny Award presented by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand to Jon Zealando and Lou Clauson QSM. === Radio and Television === The Broadcasting Authority in March grants the right to broadcast a second television channel to the private consortium Independent Television Corporation. After the election of the Labour Government in November, Norman Kirk announces the second channel will be run by NZBC. In September, the first live broadcast of an All Black match takes place. The All Blacks played against Australia. [1] Archived 22 February 2006 at the Wayback Machine Feltex Television Awards: Best Programme: Charlie's Rock – Pukemanu Outstanding Performance: Peter Sinclair in Golden Disc Award Best Drama: Charlie's Rock – Pukemanu See: 1972 in New Zealand television, 1972 in television, List of TVNZ television programming, Public broadcasting in New Zealand === Film === To Love a Māori See: 1972 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand == Sport == === Athletics === Field events within New Zealand switch from imperial to metric measurements. Track events changed earlier in 1969. David McKenzie wins his fourth and last national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:14:11.2 on 11 March in Dunedin. === Chess === The 79th National Chess Championship is held in Hamilton, and is won by R.J. Sutton of Auckland (his third title). === Horse racing === ==== Harness racing ==== New Zealand Trotting Cup: Globe Bay Auckland Trotting Cup: Royal Ascot === Olympic Games === ==== Summer Olympics ==== New Zealand sends a team of 89 competitors. ==== Winter Olympics ==== New Zealand sends a team of two alpine skiers. === Paralympic Games === ==== Summer Paralympics ==== New Zealand sends a team of 10 competitors. === Soccer === New Zealand National Soccer League won by Mt. Wellington AFC The Chatham Cup is won by Christchurch United who met Mount Wellington. Final 4-4 after extra time First replay 1-1 after extra time Second replay 2-1 == Births == 3 January: Shaun Longstaff, rugby player 9 January: Gary Stead, cricketer 3 March: Peter O'Leary, soccer referee 27 March: David Bain, originally served 12 years for murder of his family, conviction quashed by Privy Council and subsequently found not guilty at retrial. 29 March: Paul Kent, swimmer 12 April: Jenny Shepherd, field hockey player 17 April: Dylan Mika, All Black (died 20 March 2018) 16 May: Matthew Hart, cricketer 3 June: Robert Kennedy, cricketer 7 June: Karl Urban, actor 11 June: Stephen Kearney, rugby league player and coach 21 June (in South Africa): Irene van Dyk, netball player 4 July: Craig Spearman, cricketer 12 August: Tony Marsh, rugby player 6 October: Brooke Howard-Smith, broadcaster. 27 October: John Steel, swimmer 16 December: Angela Bloomfield, actress 18 December: Julian Arahanga, actor 20 December: Jonathan Wyatt, long-distance runner Veeshayne Armstrong, television presenter. (in Britain): Warwick Murray, academic. (in Hong Kong): Jack Yan, publisher, designer and businessman == Deaths == === March === 2 March – Billy Wallace, rugby player and All Black (born 1878) 4 March – Major-General Sir Harold Barrowclough, former chief justice (born 1894) === April === 14 April – Bert Hawthorne, motor racing driver (born 1943) === July === 10 July – Charles Bowden, politician (born 1886) === August === 8 August – Agnes Weston, politician (MLC) (born 1879) === September === 8 September – Harold Temple White, music teacher, conductor, organist and composer (born 1881) === October === 5 October – Jim Barclay, politician (born 1882) 8 October – Laurie Brownlie, rugby player and All Black (born 1899) 20 October – John Pascoe, photographer and mountaineer (born 1908) 22 October – James K. Baxter, poet (born 1926) === December === 11 December – John Mills, cricketer (born 1905) 26 December – Ronald Hugh Morrieson, writer (born 1922) == References == == See also == 1972 in science 1972 in Australia History of New Zealand Military history of New Zealand Timeline of the New Zealand environment Timeline of New Zealand history Timeline of New Zealand's links with Antarctica